Washington -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) won approval of more than $77.3 million for construction of the new Federal courthouse in Eugene. The funding was included in the FY2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill, the final version of which was passed by Congress last night.
"This is great news for the region," said Wyden. "I'm hopeful that the new Eugene Courthouse honors the memory of Wayne Morse as a center of equality, independence and justice."
"Wayne Morse is a national symbol of the independent spirit, a spirit that runs alive and strong in Oregon to this day," said Smith. "It's befitting that a federal courthouse will now bear his name."
Eugene's existing Federal courthouse is severely overcrowded. Judges' clerks and the District Clerk's offices have been forced to move out of the building. In addition, frequent demonstrations at Eugene's Federal courthouse demand stronger security for the facility. A previous site controversy that put construction of a new courthouse behind schedule has been rectified, and the project is now ready to proceed.
This appropriation will provide for construction of the new building to be located at the old site of the Chiquita Cannery at the corner of 8th Avenue and Mill Street.
Both the Senate and House approved legislation to name Eugene's new Federal courthouse the Wayne Lyman Morse Federal Courthouse, in honor of Oregon's longtime United States Senator. Wayne Morse served in the United States Senate from 1945 to 1969, and was actively campaigning to return to the Senate at the time of his death in 1974. During his tenure in Congress, Morse was known as a courageous and independent leader who was a Republican, an Independent, and finally a Democratic member of the Senate.
The FY03 Omnibus Appropriations bill now awaits the president's signature to become law.
