FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2001
CONTACT: Lisette McSoud Mondello
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES
SENATOR HUTCHISON'S EL PASO COURTHOUSE REQUEST
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Senate Appropriations Committee today passed a bill that includes $11.2 million requested by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for a new federal courthouse in El Paso.
"El Paso has one of the highest federal caseloads in the country, and the current courthouse is grossly inadequate and in a state of disrepair," Senator Hutchison said. "This money will be used to begin designing a new courthouse and acquire a site for its location."
El Paso is fourth on the list of 20 priority courthouse construction projects around the nation listed by the Judicial Conference, a body of 27 federal judges that meet twice yearly to consider issues affecting federal courts. The current El Paso courthouse is 66 years old. Its capacity is overextended, with court operations dispersed among two leased spaces.
The current courthouse scored 27 out of 100 on a U.S. Marshals Service National Security Survey Report. Facilities scoring below 80 are considered by the Marshals to have serious security deficiencies. Among other security problems, prisoners, litigants, the general public, jurors and judges use the same corridors and elevators.
"The Southwest Border is on the front lines of fighting illegal immigration and drugs," Senator Hutchison said. "A modern courthouse where personnel can adequately hold hearings and prosecute offenders will help ensure the Texas border has a strong defense against crime."
The funds were included in H.R. 2590, which funds the Department of Treasury, the General Services Administration and the Executive Office of the President among other agencies.
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