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.

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.

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.

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The U.S. Code is outdated.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

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. 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. 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

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.

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. 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.