[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H12118-H12119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HOLDING COURT IN NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1418) to provide for the holding of court at Natchez, 
Mississippi, in the same manner as court is held at Vicksburg, 
Mississippi, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1418

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. HOLDING OF COURT AT NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI.

       Section 104(b)(3) of title 28, United States Code, is 
     amended in the second sentence by striking all beginning with 
     the colon through ``United States''.

     SEC. 2. HOLDING OF COURT AT WHEATON, ILLINOIS.

       Section 93(a)(1) of title 28, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding after Chicago ``and Wheaton''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may

[[Page H12119]]

have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on S. 1418.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1418, as amended. It contains 
two small but important provisions that will improve the efficiency of 
the administration of justice in our Federal court system.
  Section 1 was approved in the House by unanimous consent. This 
section proposes to allow for the holding of court in Natchez, 
Mississippi, in the same manner as court is held in Vicksburg. It would 
eliminate a provision in current law that limits the authority of the 
Federal courts to lease space in order to convene proceedings in 
Natchez, Mississippi.
  While only a small number of Federal court cases are now tried at 
Natchez County Court facilities, it is important that the Federal 
Government be able to continue using the facility.
  I have a manager's amendment that adds Section 2 to the bill. Section 
2 designates Wheaton, Illinois, as a place of holding court for the 
Eastern Division of the Northern District of Illinois.
  Wheaton is the seat of DuPage County, Illinois. Because of the large 
population growth in DuPage County and the area surrounding Chicago, it 
would be beneficial to designate Wheaton as an additional place of 
holding court.
  Mr. Speaker, these are simple yet significant improvements to the 
Federal judicial system. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1418.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Shows) will claim the time of the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Weiner).
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today I urge the House to pass S. 1418, which would 
provide for the holding of Federal court in the City of Natchez, 
Mississippi.

                              {time}  1115

  Federal judges need the flexibility to hold court in different places 
within their judicial districts. However, the hands of Federal judges 
in the southern district of Mississippi are tied because of arcane 
language in Federal law. Language was written into law sometime ago 
that said the court could meet in Natchez ``provided, that court shall 
be held at Natchez if suitable quarters and accommodations are 
furnished at no cost to the United States.'' To my knowledge no other 
city presents this kind of obstacle to the Federal courts. S. 1418 
strikes this unfair and restrictive language and gives the court 
flexibility to meet in Natchez. And who would not want to meet in 
Natchez, a beautiful city in Mississippi? I appreciate the efforts of 
Senator Thad Cochran and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) to 
expedite the passage of this important legislation. I urge my 
colleagues to pass this fair and noncontroversial bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1418, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill, as amended, was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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