[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H10217-H10218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXTENDING AUTHORITY OF U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF 
              IOWA TO HOLD COURT IN ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from 
the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 2873) to extend the authority 
of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa 
to hold court in Rock Island, Illinois, and ask for its immediate 
consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                S. 2873

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

     SECTION 1. HOLDING OF COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF 
                   IOWA.

       Section 11029 of the 21st Century Department of Justice 
     Appropriations Authorization Act (28 U.S.C. 95 note; Public 
     Law 107-273; 116 Stat. 1836) is amended by striking ``July 1, 
     2005'' and inserting ``July 1, 2006''.

     SEC. 2. HOLDING OF COURT AT CLEVELAND, MISSISSIPPI.

       Section 104(a)(3) of title 28, United States Code, is 
     amended in the second sentence by inserting ``and Cleveland'' 
     after ``Clarksdale''.

     SEC. 3. PLACE OF HOLDING COURT IN TEXARKANA, TEXAS, AND 
                   TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS.

       Sections 83(b)(1) and 124(c)(5) of title 28, United States 
     Code, are each amended by inserting after ``held at 
     Texarkana'' the following: ``, and may be held anywhere 
     within the Federal courthouse in Texarkana that is located 
     astride the State line between Texas and Arkansas''.

     SEC. 4. PLACE OF HOLDING COURT IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF 
                   NEW YORK.

       Section 112(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``and Watertown'' and inserting ``Watertown, and 
     Plattsburgh''.

     SEC. 5. PLACE OF HOLDING COURT IN THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO.

       Section 85 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     inserting ``Colorado Springs,'' after ``Boulder,''.

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. The other body has passed S. 2873, which contains 
five noncontroversial items that affect the operations of certain 
Federal courts. These provisions have been thoroughly scrubbed and will 
assist the affected judicial districts in their work. I urge the House 
to pass the measure.
  Mr. Speaker, the contents of S. 2873 are as follows:
  First, the bill designates Cleveland, Mississippi, as a place of 
holding federal court. This is necessary because Cleveland is the site 
for a local prison that houses Federal inmates who cannot be 
incarcerated elsewhere based on a shortage of Federal facilities in the 
area.
  The provision will allow a federal judge who resides in Cleveland to 
process the Federal cases there rather than commute to Greenville along 
with the prisoners. There is no need for building construction or 
leased space.
  Second, the bill designates Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana Arkansas, 
as places of holding Federal court. The provision allows the Western 
District of Arkansas and the Eastern District of Texas to hold court 
anywhere within the Texarkana courthouse that straddles the border 
between the two States. This will allow the judges to coordinate their 
workloads and move their dockets more efficiently.

[[Page H10218]]

  Third, the bill designates Plattsburgh, New York, as a place of 
holding court. This provision was part of H.R. 3632, an 
anticounterfeiting bill, that the House passed earlier this year by 
voice vote. The Plattsburgh designation will assist the U.S. Customs 
Service and the Department of Justice in prosecuting criminal activity 
on the Canadian border and Lake Champlain region.
  Fourth, the bill designates Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a place of 
holding court. This was also part of H.R. 3632. Colorado Springs is 
home to a number of Federal prison facilities, including one which 
houses terrorists. The nearest Federal court is 70 miles away. The 
Marshals Service is especially concerned about transporting terrorists 
over this expanse.
  And fifth, the bill extends an existing authorization to permit the 
Southern Judicial District of Iowa to hold court in Rock Island, 
Illinois. The courthouse in Iowa is undergoing renovations which are 
not yet completed, thereby necessitating the extension.
  To conclude, I emphasize that the Administrative Office of the U.S. 
Courts endorses this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the other body and our committee in a bipartisan fashion 
have reviewed these items and we find them meritorious. I urge my 
colleagues to support S. 2873.
  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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