Construction of a new federal courts building and the renovation of the existing Joel Solomon Building have emerged as recommendations from the Judicial Conference of the United States and the General Services Administration. The site acquisition and design will be part of the 2005 federal budget and the construction will be included in the 2007 budget. The Judicial Conference makes administrative policies for the federal judiciary. These two major projects will be included in the President's annual budget request to Congress beginning in 2004.

Plans and specifications for the renovation and new construction are still months away, but early estimates of cost for both facilities range from $60-80 million.

In recent planning conferences between representatives of the General Services Administration (GSA), court officials, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Congressman Wamp, it was determined that the security and space needs of the United States District Court can only be met with a new stand-alone structure. This proposed building would house the U.S. District Court, and potentially the U.S. Attorney's office, The U.S. Marshall Service, U.S. Probation Office and Pretrial Services. The renovated Solomon Building will house the United States Bankruptcy Court.

"Following extensive input from the users of the federal facilities in downtown Chattanooga, GSA and the Judicial Conference are now recommending two major capital projects in the near future. First, the construction of a new, state of the art Federal Courts building and secondly, the renovation and modification of the Joel Solomon Building," said Wamp, whose Chattanooga office is currently located in the Solomon Federal Courthouse Building.

"As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will work hard to make sure these needed investments are made and I will continue to monitor the progress of this plan until it is complete," continued Congressman Wamp.

Chief United States District Judge R. Allan Edgar said, "It has become painfully evident that we are out of space. The events of September 11th gave us a heightened awareness of security concerns. This plan will enable us to address these matters and retain the Solomon Building as a Chattanooga landmark and courthouse. We have always had as a goal the preservation of the Solomon Building, which is an architectural gem, and an asset to Chattanooga's downtown."

General Services Administrator Gary Mote added, "we will continue to lease space in the Old Post Office for the United States Bankruptcy Court until we can move them to the Solomon Building. We will begin talks with the City of Chattanooga in the near future about potential sites for the new courthouse."