July 10, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 115 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H5328-H5329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ADDING FLAGSTAFF AND YUMA TO LIST OF LOCATIONS IN WHICH COURT SHALL BE 
             HELD IN JUDICIAL DISTRICT FOR STATE OF ARIZONA

  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1569) to amend title 28, United States Code, to add 
Flagstaff and Yuma to the list of locations in which court shall be 
held in the judicial district for the State of Arizona.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1569

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DISTRICT COURTS IN THE JUDICIAL DISTRICT FOR THE 
                   STATE OF ARIZONA.

       Section 82 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``Globe, Phoenix, Prescott, and Tucson'' and 
     inserting ``Flagstaff, Globe, Phoenix, Prescott, Tucson, and 
     Yuma''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Stanton) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1569, a bill 
unanimously supported by our entire Arizona delegation that will amend 
title 28 of the U.S. Code to add the cities of Flagstaff and Yuma to 
the list of locations in which Federal district court can be held in my 
home State of Arizona.
  The U.S. Code is outdated. It has not been amended since it was 
enacted in 1948. It is preposterous that right now, district court 
matters can only be held in Globe, Phoenix, Prescott, and Tucson.
  That means Yuma and Flagstaff residents must travel at least 100 
miles to attend a hearing or report for jury duty. That is totally 
unacceptable and unnecessary.
  A pillar of the United States structure of democracy is for all 
Americans to have access to the courts, whether that is by literal 
location or by reducing cost barriers. We are weakening that pillar 
when residents must drive over 100 miles for their day in court.
  Access to justice should not be dictated by where you live. I am 
proud to support this legislation because it will have a tremendous 
impact on the residents in these parts of Arizona.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I hope the 
Senate acts

[[Page H5329]]

swiftly and delivers H.R. 1569 to the President for his signature.
  It is time for Arizona to have a more efficient and effective court 
system.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I agree with everything the 
gentleman just said. This is a good bill. It needs to happen.
  These locations are different, and since 1948, the State of Arizona 
has changed.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran), the sponsor of H.R. 1569.
  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Nadler and Ranking 
Member Collins for moving this bill through the Judiciary Committee. 
Similarly, I thank all the committee members for supporting the bill on 
a unanimous voice vote.
  This legislation has the bipartisan and bicameral support of the 
Arizona delegation.
  This simple, commonsense legislation allows current Federal judges to 
sit in existing courthouses or magistrates' chambers in Yuma and 
Flagstaff, two rapidly growing communities where constituents do not 
have full access to the Federal judicial system.
  By allowing existing judges to sit in Yuma and Flagstaff, residents 
of rural Arizona will not have to travel the significant distances they 
currently do to Phoenix or Tucson to be heard by a judge.
  This will mean that police officers can spend more time on patrol and 
that individuals won't have to travel to serve on juries or participate 
in matters that require a judge.

                              {time}  1530

  Easier access to courthouses will help Tribal nations that are under 
significant Federal jurisdiction. This will only further support Tribal 
sovereignty.
  This legislation is a simple way to improve life for residents of 
rural America, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 
1569.
  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman O'Halleran for his 
leadership on this important legislation. I also thank Chairman Nadler 
for working with me and advancing this bill through the House Judiciary 
Committee. It is going to make a positive difference to Arizonans. And 
I thank Representative Collins, as well, for his support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1569.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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