Representing North Carolina’s Ninth District                                                                        

REPS. MYRICK AND WATT ANNOUNCE $8.5 MILLION
FOR NEW FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN CHARLOTTE

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representatives Sue Myrick (9th District, North Carolina) and Mel Watt (12th District, North Carolina) today announced that the U.S. House passed the Treasury-Transportation Appropriations Conference Report, which included $8.5 million to fund the site and design of a new federal courthouse in Charlotte. 

        Reps. Watt and Myrick have been working together for several years to obtain a new federal courthouse in Charlotte.  The existing Charles R. Jonas Federal Building and Courthouse is in desperate need of space, as six more judges are expected over the next ten years.  Currently, there is no place to put these judges.  In addition, the current judges are using significantly undersized courtrooms and there are major security problems in the building. 

         Reps. Myrick and Watt wrote a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting the funding be included in the final bill, and had meetings with several Appropriators to ensure funding would be included in the final bill.  The Conference Report must still pass the U.S. Senate and be signed into law by the President, both of which are expected. 

          Rep. Watt said: “I am extremely pleased that the House has included this funding. This is an important step towards making a new courthouse for Charlotte a reality.  Rep. Myrick’s support was critically important and I appreciate this bipartisan success.” 

          “Rep. Mel Watt and I have fought hard for this funding for almost a decade,” Myrick said.  “I am extremely happy that we were able to secure initial funding for a new Charlotte courthouse.  The people of Charlotte certainly deserve it.” 

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