Senator Lamar Alexander voted on Thursday in the Senate Appropriations Committee to approve $189.1 million for the construction of a new federal courthouse in Chattanooga. This legislation, unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, is now ready to be considered by the full Senate.
Senator Alexander said, “This bill, at my request, provides $189.1 million to build a desperately needed new courthouse in the largest and busiest Judicial District in Tennessee.
Construction for this new courthouse has been through a rigorous justification and prioritization process, and is the only solution to address the significant operation, space, and security deficiencies that exist at the current Federal Courthouse in Chattanooga – Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse – which was constructed 86 years ago. The Judicial Conference of the United States has designated Chattanooga as a Courthouse Construction Priority, and I am glad that the need for this new facility has been recognized by the Committee.”
The Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill is consistent with the spending limits included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 approved by Congress, and signed by President Trump, in August.