[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 182 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2020, TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL 
                  GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                            HON. RICK LAZIO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 15, 1995

  Mr. LAZIO of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2020, 
the FY 1996 Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government 
Appropriations Act. I would like to take this opportunity to commend 
the conferees on this bill for their efforts, particularly the chairman 
of the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations 
Subcommittee, the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Lightfoot].
  The conference agreement contains $189 million in funding to complete 
construction of a vitally important project in my district on Long 
Island, the Central Islip Federal Courthouse. I was pleased the 
conferees quickly reached agreement on full funding for completion of 
the courthouse and deeply appreciate the willingness of Chairman 
Lightfoot and the other conferees in working with me to meet this 
essential need.
  First announced by the General Services Administration [GSA] in 1991, 
the Central Islip Courthouse was designed to solve the problems of the 
only space emergency in our Nation declared by the U.S. Judicial 
Conference. That space emergency for the eastern district of New York, 
was first declared in 1989 and renewed in 1992. These declarations are 
unique in that these are the only times the Judicial Conference has 
ever taken such an action. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts 
has just designated the Central Islip Federal Courthouse as its No. 1 
construction priority.
  Without the completion of the Central Islip Federal Courthouse, 
eastern Long Island's 2.5 million people will continue to have to 
tolerate what has been described as a security nightmare. Federal 
judges in New York's eastern judicial district are facing the heaviest 
case load in the district's history while enduring dangerous, 
inefficient, costly temporary facilities scattered in five rented 
locations.
  Unlike some other Federal courthouse projects, the cost per square 
foot of the Central Islip Courthouse is below the GSA average for 
similar projects. The courthouse will be cost effective, saving 
taxpayers $4 million a year now paid for rent.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to continue to support 
the timely completion of the Central Islip Federal Courthouse.

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