Text of Senator Charles Schumer's Letter to Mitchell Daniels, Jr. Office of Management and Budget

Dear Director Daniels:

I write to follow up on our recent phone conversations regarding funding for site selection and design of the new federal courthouse proposed for Buffalo, NY. As we have discussed, the General Services Administration (GSA) has found $9.9 million within its own coffers that would enable it to begin this process without new expenditure from the federal government. However, the Office of Management and Budget has yet to give final approval for the GSA to spend this money. I urge you to allow this transfer of funds to take place.

The September 11 terrorist attacks underscored the importance of security for our federal buildings, and Buffalo's law enforcement community is on the front line of our efforts to bolster homeland security on the northern border. In fact, the current Buffalo Courthouse has been the site of several cases that require heightened security, including the "Lackawanna Six" terrorist cell case. The facility also handles a large number of high-profile domestic issues, such as the James Kopp murder trial. The current building's infrastructure is simply inadequate to handle the growing security and capacity needs of the Western District.

This project is essential to the security of the judges and their staffs, and to the efficient operation of courthouse functions in the Western District of New York. The proposed new courthouse will also be an important component of efforts to revitalize Buffalo's downtown area. The current preferred site is Niagara Square, the very heart of Buffalo's civic and business activity. Standing next to Buffalo's beautiful City Hall, the courthouse will be the newest of many architecturally significant buildings in downtown, and it will greatly enhance ongoing efforts to breathe new life into the city center.

As local, state, and federal economies struggle to fund homeland security despite a need for continued austerity, the availability of already appropriated funds for this project seems serendipitous. Therefore, I hope that your office will quickly approve the GSA's request to transfer $9.9 million among its accounts to fund site selection and design for a new Buffalo Courthouse.

Thank you for your consideration of my request. If your staff is in need of additional information, they may contact Moira Campion of my office at (202) 224-7242.

Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator