Congressional Delegation Applaud Progress Towards Making A New Federal Courthouse A Reality In Mcallen

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representatives Rubén Hinojosa, Henry Cuellar and Filemon Vela (D-TX) and U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz (R-TX) applauded the decision by the Space and Facilities Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States to recommend a feasibility study be conducted with respect to the need for a new federal courthouse in McAllen.

The Judicial Conference of the United States is the national governing and policy making body of the Federal Judiciary. The recommendation by the Space and Facilities Committee of the Conference to conduct a feasibility study for McAllen moves McAllen one step closer to being recognized as a top national priority for a new federal courthouse.

Hinojosa, Cuellar, and Vela were informed of this development by the Honorable D. Brooks Smith, Chairman of the Space and Facility Committee. Judge Smith is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Judge Smith recently visited McAllen to personally assess the needs of the local federal courthouse in McAllen and met with Congressmen Hinojosa and Cuellar amongst others.

"The McAllen Division of the Southern District of Texas handles one of the busiest federal dockets in the nation and is long overdue for a new state-of-the-art federally-owned courthouse that will address current and future space and operational needs of the courts. Moreover, this project will create jobs, economic development, and improve security for the courts," said Congressman Hinojosa.

"I thank Judge Brooks Smith & GSA Regional Administrator Sylvia Hernandez for assisting in advancing this feasibly study and paving the way for a possible new federal courthouse in McAllen. This is a project I've been working on since 2010, when I requested this housing study for the courthouse. Today's announcement is a key step forward. Similar to the situation we faced in San Antonio, for which a new federal courthouse is on its way to construction, McAllen is also in need of a dedicated court space that is safe and able to meet the needs of a growing caseload. I am pleased to see that this feasibility study is moving forward and I thank my colleagues at the federal, state, and local level for continuing to work together on this important project," said Congressman Cuellar.

"The availability of appropriate facilities is critical to access to justice in our federal courts. McAllen is one of the last major cities in the country without a dedicated federal courthouse, and today's announcement is long overdue," Congressman Vela said. "I am pleased that we are taking steps to ensure that judges, prosecutors, public defenders and the people of South Texas have secure, modern courtrooms."

Hinojosa, Cuellar and Vela have been leading an effort championed by a working group of federal, state and local elected officials to advance construction of the new federal courthouse in McAllen. The group led by Hinojosa, Cuellar and Vela includes U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Texas State Senator Chuy Hinojosa, State Representative Eddie Lucio, County Judge Ramon Garcia, City of McAllen Mayor Jim Darling and City Manager Roy Rodriguez.

The group has also been coordinating efforts with the regional representatives of the General Services Administration, the federal government's landlord, to better understand the needs of the federal judiciary in McAllen. The GSA would be the government agency to eventually oversee and manage the construction of the proposed new federal courthouse in McAllen.

"This recommendation marks a critical first step towards a new federal courthouse in McAllen, and I look forward to continuing to work with the local community and the congressional delegation as this process moves forward over the coming years," said Sen. Cornyn.

"This study is an important first step in considering how best to move forward with the federal courthouse in McAllen," Senator Cruz said. "I will continue to work closely with my colleagues to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to meet the needs of the Rio Grande Valley."

The Space and Facilities Committee's recommendation advances to the Judicial Conference of the United States, which meets in September and could advance the proposal. Once adopted by the Judicial Conference, the matter advances to the GSA to finish the study.

"We are thrilled by the commitment of all involved that have worked to move this process along in record speed, and we will continue working together until we get a new federal courthouse in McAllen that best serves the interests of justice in the Rio Grande Valley," said Congressman Hinojosa.