"This is good news for Iowa," Grassley said. "Updated courthouse facilities will provide increased security and improved services for people in Cedar Rapids and Davenport."
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government will include $5.167 million for the new federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids and $12.586 million for the courthouse in Davenport in its spending plan for the next fiscal year. Last April, Grassley wrote to subcommittee leaders requesting the funding.
Funds for the courthouse in Cedar Rapids would be used toward design of the new federal facility. Last year, Grassley helped secure $9.8 in federal funding for site acquisition. The current courthouse is 70 years old and has been operating at full capacity since 1991.
"This year's funding would help complete the design phase of the project," said Grassley, who has supported local efforts to build the courthouse since the mid 1990s. "Courtrooms in the new facility will be able to adequately handle the number of caseloads and new security features will provide a safer environment for judges, staff and the public."
Grassley said funding for the federal courthouse in Davenport would be used for building repairs and alterations. The project received $780,000 in federal funding in fiscal 2001. "Funds appropriated this year would be used for continued renovation of the Davenport facility," Grassley said. "The building needs to be expanded for additional courtroom and office space. Security improvements also need to be made and electrical and lighting systems need to be updated."
The full Senate Appropriations Committee must now meet to consider the funding. The appropriations process begins each spring and is typically completed at the end of each congressional session.