Melvin Watt: “I submit the following items for inclusion in the Record regarding the House floor consideration of H.R. 4472 on March…”

“I submit the following items for inclusion in the Record regarding the House floor consideration of H.R. 4472 on March 8, 2006. March 7, 2006. Dear Representative Conyers: On behalf of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the policy-making body of the federal judiciary, I am writing to convey its views regarding the provisions contained in H.R. 4472, the ``Children's Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2005.'' We would like to emphasize that there are several ways in which this bill will be helpful to the Judiciary, even though there are some provisions about which we have concerns or would wish to modify. In particular, we greatly appreciate inclusion in this bill of important measures designed to improve the security of our federal courts. Some of the impetus for these court security provisions in the bill arose from the tragic circumstances surrounding the murder of family members of Judge Joan Lefkow of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Her husband and mother were shot and killed by a disgruntled litigant. The current bill contains several provisions that are of particular interest to the federal courts and that are supported by the Judicial Conference. One provision of the bill requires the United States Marshals Service to consult with the Administrative Office of the United States Courts regarding the security requirements of the judicial branch.…”