Washington, D.C. – Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH), sent a letter, joined by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R), to President Obama requesting that the construction of an annex and renovations of the historic James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley United States Courthouse in Toledo, Ohio be included the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget request.
The Federal Judiciary has recognized Toledo’s need by placing the courthouse at the top of the Federal Judiciary Courthouse Project Priorities list. The Congressmen asked the President to ensure this remains a top priority of the Federal Judiciary.
“After visiting the James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley U.S. Courthouse, it is evident that the building is severely outdated, does not meet minimum security standards, and lacks adequate space to function efficiently,” said Latta. “The renovation of the Federal Courthouse is necessary for the judges, federal prosecutors and staff to effectively serve the Northern District of Ohio.”
“The employees and community members who utilize the James M. Ashley and Thomas W. L. Ashley United States Courthouse deserve a functional and safe building,” Brown said. “Federal funding for renovations will help ensure that the men and women working inside the courthouse can continue to serve the public.”
“By making necessary renovations to the Toledo Courthouse, we can preserve the historic integrity of the building while also ensuring the safety of those working in the courthouse,” said Portman.
“The request from the Judicial Branch for nearly $100 million in construction and renovation at Toledo’s Ashley Courthouse is welcome news. Although the reality of budgetary constraints at the federal level make any federal construction project difficult, Toledo’s elevation to the top of the Judiciary’s list gives a significant boost to our bipartisan efforts to address security and space concerns at Toledo’s historic courthouse. We urge the President to include funding for Toledo in his annual budget request,” stated Kaptur.
More:
Letter to President Obama (LINK)
