Public Law 91-172

Public Law 91-172, enacted in 1969, authorized the construction of the Federal Building (now the Howard T. Markey National Courts Building) in Washington, D.C., and designated its jurisdiction for federal court functions. It also established guidelines for the building's use and management, ensuring federal courts had a dedicated, secure facility to carry out judicial activities. Essentially, the law provided the legal framework and funding to create a centralized courthouse for federal courts in the nation's capital.