Russ Feingold: Press Release

FEINGOLD, KOHL, KAGEN PUSH FOR NEW FEDERAL COURTHOUSE FOR GREEN BAY
Green Bay’s U.S. District Court Currently Operating Out of Disjointed Office Space Throughout the City

July 31, 2008

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl and U.S. Representative Steve Kagen are urging Federal court administrators to make a new Federal Courthouse for Green Bay a priority. In a letter sent today to the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), Feingold, Kohl and Kagen cited the substantial costs and lack of efficiency with the current arrangement as evidence of the need for a new Courthouse. Currently, the Green Bay division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin rents a number of different offices throughout the city to conduct its business rather than having a centralized location.

“While many cities across the country are in need of a new Federal Courthouse to replace aging facilities, Green Bay is in the particularly pressing situation of not having a centralized building at all,” Feingold said. “Right now, with the court divided up in spaces around the city, people have to run all over town to conduct official court business. A new Federal Courthouse for Green Bay should be a top priority as administrators schedule new projects.”

“As one of Wisconsin’s largest cities and the center of a growing region, Green Bay should have a federal courthouse to serve the area’s increasing population. Fragmenting these services is an inefficient way to conduct the court’s business, and an inconvenience to those needing its services,” Kohl said.

“This investment will boost our local economy in Brown County," said Congressman Steve Kagen. “I am working hard to guarantee that our hard earned tax dollars are spent here in Wisconsin and not overseas. By investing in our own infrastructure we will create higher wage jobs here at home.”

The AO is investigating the need for new construction or building renovations at more than 30 sites across the country, including Green Bay. Due to a now-expired moratorium on construction and the corresponding backlog of projects, many projects need to be completed before a Federal Courthouse for Green Bay could get to the top of the list of prioritized projects. In their letter, the Members of Congress call for a Green Bay Court to be added to the list as soon as possible.


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