Brian Higgins

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two outstanding community leaders as they are honored by the Amherst Chamber of Commerce as the 2013 Stewardship Award Winners, Peter Solender and Suzie Rivo Solender. Few have been so generous with their time and talents as Peter and Suzie. Peter and Suzie Solender's community involvement begins with their children. As parents, Suzie spent time as a Girl Scout leader, while Peter was active with his son in Cub Scouts. When their children began attending school, Peter and Suzie became heavily involved in the Williamsville Parent-Teacher Association, Parent-Teacher-Student Association, and Parent-Teacher Association Council. At one point, Suzie held the PTA presidency at both Heim Middle School and Williamsville East High School simultaneously. As a member of the Town of Amherst Youth Board, Suzie currently is serving her second three-year term. The Solenders devote much of their time to the American Cancer Society, as both Peter and Suzie are cancer survivors. Suzie has sat on many boards for the ACS, including the Advisory Board, and as one of five members of the leadership committee. Suzie's talents as a grant writer allowed her to become a stakeholder with the National ACS. For three years, she reviewed grant applications for areas of cancer research as a stakeholder with the National ACS. Suzie is trained as a Legislative Ambassador on the Congressional level. Together, Peter and Suzie work at Hope Lodge in Buffalo, where cancer patients and family members can stay if they require outpatient treatment but live too far to commute. They take great pride in directly helping those who face the battle against cancer. The American Heart Association is close to Peter and Suzie. The Solenders helped with the American Heart Association's yearly walk, and Suzie served on the Gala Board for Heart for three years. As people of faith, the Solenders are active locally, regionally, and nationally in their house of worship. Both Suzie and Peter have sat on many fundraising committees. Suzie served two terms as Sisterhood President and two terms on the Board of Directors, and together they were involved in B'nai B'rith and B'nai B'rith Woman--a Jewish organization. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me a few moments to recognize Peter and Suzie Solender, two pillars of our community. I am inspired by their selflessness, grateful for their service, and wish their family the absolute best in all their future endeavors. Their good works have touched innumerable lives in Western New York.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize an exceptional group of individuals as they are honored by the Niagara Falls Education Foundation. Angelica, Theresa and Joseph DiCamillo, Joseph Calato, Douglas Moordian and Coach Pat Monti have made great investments in Niagara Falls. Their tireless work and generosity with their talents make them outstanding role models for current students. Angelica, Theresa, and Joseph of the DiCamillo family are all proud alumni of Niagara Falls High School. Their parents, Tomasso and Addoloratata DiCamillo, opened the legendary DiCamillo bakery on 14th Street and Tronolone Place in Niagara Falls. When people visit Niagara Falls, their first stop is often DiCamillo's. As teenagers, Angelica, Theresa, and Joseph began working to support their family's business. Angelica began working in the bakery a few years after graduating high school, after managing the family grocery store. Theresa handled office responsibilities such as payroll and accounting as early as age 13, while attending school. Today, she and Angelica are the Senior Advisers to the company. Joseph began as a baker while in school, eventually becoming a driver for the family's company and staying involved for fifty-four years. Today, the company is operated by the next generation of the DiCamillo family. Joseph Calato ensured Niagara Falls's place in music history. Joe became known as a passionate drummer while enrolled at Niagara Falls High School. Often, Joe became frustrated at how quickly the tips of his drumsticks deteriorated. One day, after returning home to Niagara Falls following his service in the Air Force, he put a plastic tip on the end of his drumstick, and created what is now known as the Regal Tip drumstick. Regal Tip is now a family business, producing drumsticks and brushes that are sold internationally from Niagara Falls. Douglas Mooradian returned to Niagara Falls after spending four years pursuing higher education at SUNY Cortland and four years working in North Carolina for the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. As the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Health System Services, a company based in Wheatfield, Doug has played an integral role in the growth of the company's Home Medical and Respiratory Equipment Division. Since returning home, Doug has immersed himself in the community, and has won honors such as ``Volunteer of the Year'' in 2009 from the Niagara Falls Boys' & Girls' Club. His mother, Kathy, father, Carl, sisters, Stacy and Wendy, and wife, Jennifer, are all proud Niagara Falls High School alumni. Coach Patrick Monti spent twenty-five years as a basketball coach at LaSalle High School. While coaching at LaSalle High School, he compiled an impressive 423-112 record, and led the Explorers to two New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A Championships in 1995 and 1996. In 1987, the Explorers completed a legendary unbeaten season, ending with a record of twenty-seven wins and zero losses. Coach Monti was known for his discipline, and beloved by the LaSalle High School community. Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to recognize the work these individuals have done with the Niagara Falls public schools and in the greater Niagara Falls community. I am grateful for their wonderful talents and incredible generosity.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, this week's announcement that New York State is committing to take action on removing the Robert Moses Parkway in Niagara Falls is welcome news for western New York. Niagara Falls is a national treasure, drawing millions of visitors each year, yet the parkway has created a physical and economic barrier between Niagara Falls and its extraordinary waterfront. With Federal infrastructure dollars already stretched thin, we must take every opportunity to look at alternative funding sources. In this case, the New York Power Authority, the body responsible for the creation of the parkway and the current owner of its infrastructure, has the responsibility and the capacity to fund its removal. Mr. Speaker, we cannot let the New York Power Authority off the hook on this historic wrong. By holding them to this obligation, we free up State and Federal resources for additional projects in Niagara Falls, maximizing the impact of our investment. It's time for Niagara Falls to have the waterfront it deserves.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, the success of Boston law enforcement in responding to the marathon bombing is due to the skill and coordination of their law enforcement community. Boston's law enforcement agencies also have the benefit of membership in the Urban Area Security Initiative, or UASI, program. The security program was created to develop capabilities to prevent and respond to attacks just like this one in our most vulnerable cities. Unfortunately, funding shortfalls in recent years have cut the number of cities included in this program from 64 to 32. The Buffalo-Niagara region which I represent was among the eliminated regions. Madam Speaker, the eliminated cities are still vulnerable, and, in fact, it was recently revealed that a Canadian terror plot may have targeted the border in Niagara Falls. The Federal Government made an investment in these communities, and a sudden exclusion from this security program threatens to render that investment wasted. The increased security and response capabilities that have been developed must be preserved, and we have an obligation to restore eligibility to these excluded communities.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. I thank my friend and colleague for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Congressman Charlie Dent and Congresswoman Esty for working together on this bipartisan amendment. Our amendment would ensure that the Bureau of Land Management implements free market reforms while respecting its contractual obligations. High-tech manufacturing, MRIs, nuclear power reactors, and a host of critical national defense applications require helium. Congress asked American companies to partner with the Federal Government to build the infrastructure needed to extract, store, and refine and bring to market this valuable domestic resource. Now that the infrastructure is built out, this legislation seeks to break our contracts with those partners. This is unfair and unnecessary. Our amendment simply affirms that the Bureau of Land Management will honor its existing contracts that are set forth to expire over the next couple of years. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bipartisan amendment to demonstrate that we can reform our helium policy in a way that respects the agreements and contracts we've made.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I was alarmed to discover that the Department of Homeland Security's budget request proposed a study of the imposition of a fee--a tax--for passengers and pedestrians at our northern land border crossing. Western New York is home to two rail and three vehicle crossings, including the Peace Bridge, the second busiest northern border crossing. Integrating the economies of western New York and southern Ontario is essential to our economic strength, and nationally 300,000 people cross our Canadian border by vehicle each day and spend an estimated $235 million. Last year, the American and Canadian Governments signed a historic Beyond-the-Border agreement to bolster cross-border travel. The imposition of a border toll will discourage cross-border travel and goes against the spirit of this historic agreement. Mr. Speaker, we should be encouraging increased economic activity between the United States and Canada, not stifling it. This proposal is completely unacceptable and must be withdrawn immediately.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, America's biomedical research industry is the envy of the world, but the health insurance model is not keeping pace with the science. For cancer patients, this means that smart drugs purchased at a pharmacy and self-administered orally are dramatically more expensive than traditional chemotherapy administered at a hospital or at a clinic. This makes no sense. That is why I have joined with a broad coalition of the cancer community to reintroduce the Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act. This bill would require health insurance coverage for smart drugs and injectable treatments at the same rate. Ensuring that parity coverage exists would both increase access to life-saving treatments and improve the quality of life for cancer patients. Mr. Speaker, a cancer patient should never be denied the most effective cancer treatment because of cost. We must make sure that coverage for cancer treatments keeps pace with the promising new therapies as they become available.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about a remarkable man from Buffalo, New York--John Granville. John was a diplomat with the United States Agency for International Development, who was facilitating free elections in the Sudan when, 5 years ago, he was assassinated in Khartoum. Four of his killers were captured and convicted, but they escaped from prison. Two remain at large, and the State Department has issued a $5 million reward for information leading to their capture. Meanwhile, in February, the Sudanese Government pardoned the man who helped John Granville's killers escape. Madam Speaker, John deserves better. He was a selfless and courageous man who dedicated his life to representing the United States and in helping those who needed it most. Tomorrow, I will introduce a resolution calling for the Sudan to remain on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list until the pardon is repealed and the escapees are captured. I will also send a letter demanding that President al-Bashir rescind the pardon immediately. John Granville made western New York and our Nation proud. I will keep fighting to see that justice is served and that his memory is honored.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, I will participate in a symposium on dementia being sponsored by the western New York chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. This event is a reminder that, while progress has been made in understanding Alzheimer's, there is still a great deal that we must learn about how to treat this terrible illness. Alzheimer's is a disease whose origins are unknown, but whose end is absolutely certain. It's a disease that's touched the families of many in this Chamber, including my own. According to the Alzheimer's Association, as many as 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, with its prevalence expected to increase over the next several decades. With so many in Washington mindlessly devoted to the agenda of austerity, we must remember that our budget is not only an accounting statement, but also a statement of our values. I urge the rejection of austerity and an increase in the funding we need for medical research to find a cure for diseases like Alzheimer's that devastate so many American families.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, this week I took part in a town hall meeting in Buffalo, along with the Alliance for American Manufacturing, and discussed the importance of manufacturing jobs to our region and to our Nation. With western New York's dedicated workforce and history of manufacturing success, we are ready to grow our economy with the resurgence of advanced manufacturing industry. But to do this, our workers and businesses need a willing partner in their government. This Congress must make investing in our infrastructure and investing in our people top priorities. Robust funding to rebuild roads and bridges, along with fostering job-training programs and passing legislation in the House Democrats' Make It In America agenda, will enable us to compete with any other nation in the world. Mr. Speaker, investing in American manufacturing creates jobs and reduces the deficit. There is much work to be done, and there are Americans who need the work.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, in western New York, we don't expect anything to be handed to us. History has taught us that we have to fight for what we deserve. Our community just won two recent victories against Federal bureaucracies by standing up and demanding better. When the Veterans Administration decided to cancel the Golden Age Games just 2 months before they were to be held in Buffalo and stick our community with a $2.2 million loss, the community fought back. Last week, the VA reversed its decision and announced that the games would proceed as planned. When the Army Corps of Engineers decided to prohibit access to Squaw Island Pier in Buffalo, a popular fishing destination on the waterfront, we pushed back hard. This morning, I met with Corps officials. They assured me that public access to the site would continue. Western New Yorkers won two victories in 2 weeks because we stood up for ourselves. Let this be a lesson to our community and a warning to the Federal bureaucracy: when you make senseless decisions that hurt western New York, you're going to have a fight on your hands.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the former Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly, and my former colleague, Arthur O. Eve, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. A Korean war veteran, factory worker, national political activist, and tireless advocate for all those forced to occupy the margins of society, Art's selfless public service inspires me to this day. Born in New York City and raised in Florida during segregation, Art arrived in Buffalo in February 1953. Having just earned his Bachelor's of Science from West Virginia State College, he enlisted in the United State Army. Art honorably served our country, fighting in the Korean War from 1953 to 1955. While serving his tour of duty in Germany, he managed a program for orphans, foreshadowing his legacy of advocacy for children, the elderly, the homeless, the poor, and all others who suffer discrimination. In 1955, Art completed his service and returned to Buffalo, securing a job at a local Chevrolet plant. It was there he first observed the desperate plight Buffalo's youth. Due to a complete absence of role models and guidance, young people often succumbed to drugs and other criminal activities. A former All-High basketball player in Florida and an All-European player in Germany, Art intimately understood the immeasurable benefits of role models and organized activities in children's lives. Art became inspired to quit his job at Chevrolet to seek a position in parks and recreation. He found civil service jobs, the foundation of our city, were rarely awarded based on merit. Determined to transform the system from within, Art joined the local Democratic Party and soon earned his position in the Parks Department. A true reformer, Art was the sole ward leader who remained separate from the political establishment by 1958. He became known for his courageous independent activism and civil rights advocacy, which led to his election to the New York State Assembly in 1966. Art dedicated his extraordinary tenure in the Assembly to representing those who others ignored. During his first term, he pioneered efforts to secure $500,000 to begin the State University of New York system's SEEK/Educational Opportunity Program. The program provides financially disadvantaged students with academic support and supplemental funding to facilitate their pursuit of higher education. As of 2013, the program had $3.5 million worth of funding. Art's reputation as a champion of equality spread. Ahead of his time, Art supported many issues that remain relevant today, including legislation in favor of expanded access to healthcare and against hate crimes. By the 1970s, colleges in New York had established the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program to aid students without scholastic or financial resources. In 1988, the Kennedy Center recognized Art's legacy with their prestigious Distinguished Leadership in Arts and Education Award. In 1979, Art became Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly. His tireless work towards equality and human rights brought national attention to the New York State Assembly. As Deputy Speaker, he was the highest ranking African American in the New York State Legislature. He was a founding member of the New York State Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus, and served on the committee of public officials who attempted to quell the conflict at Attica State Prison. He remained Deputy Speaker until his retirement from the State Assembly in 2002. Art's rise to political prominence demonstrated great strides for the African-American community. In Buffalo, Art became the first African American to win the Buffalo Mayoral Democratic Primary. During his campaign, he led a historic voter registration drive, registering thousands of new African-American voters. Nationally, Art served as an adviser to Jesse Jackson's 1984 presidential campaign. I feel highly privileged to have served with Art in the State Assembly from 1999 to 2002. During my time there, I valued Art's advice and counsel. As a new legislator in Albany, I treasured the wisdom and companionship of my colleague and fellow advocate for Western New York. To this day, I feel extremely fortunate to have shared time in the New York State Legislature with Art. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to celebrate Arthur Eve's extraordinary work in honor of his 80th birthday. I am profoundly grateful for his service and friendship, and continue to be inspired by his incredible legacy.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Louis C. DeBergalis, who passed away on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the age of 69. A proud member of Ironworkers Local 6 who shared a family-owned small business, Mr. DeBergalis exemplified the American Dream. Along with his brother, Rocco Jr., he co-owned Rod Placing, a steel reinforcing company started by his father, Rocco. Mr. DeBergalis was a family man. In addition to his role and pride in the family business, he loved his wife, Christine; daughters, Tonya Balash and Jacquelyn Criola; son, Jeffrey; mother, Olympia; sister, Mary Rose Gaughan; and three brothers Joseph, Paul, and Rocco Jr. Mr. DeBergalis lived most of his life in Buffalo's Lovejoy neighborhood. He took pride in his heritage and community, holding membership in the Big Timers Italian-American Club. In his down time, he enjoyed a variety of activities including gardening, cooking, and stone carving. Mr. Speaker, I kindly ask you to join me and our colleagues as we stand in this moment to honor the life of Mr. Louis C. DeBergalis and offer our deepest condolences to his family.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Russell J. Salvatore as the Buffalo Niagara Sales & Marketing Executives' choice for their 2012 Executive of the Year. Russ is a talented businessman, food service visionary and generous philanthropist, who is truly inspired by his love of the people of Western New York. From an early age, Russ saw the great potential for service through entrepreneurship through his father, Joseph Salvatore. Joseph owned Salvatore's Restaurant, a family eatery on Buffalo's East Side. Growing up his father's restaurant, Russ developed a passion for service, tireless work ethic, and an appreciation for the value of a warm meal. Joseph passed the family business down to Russ and his brother in 1967. Shortly after, Russ pursued his own endeavors, purchasing a small hot dog stand on Transit Road and transforming it into Salvatore's Italian Gardens. For nearly forty years, Russ lived and breathed Salvatore's. His tireless work turned Salvatore's Italian Gardens into a renowned restaurant and banquet center, winner of countless awards and national recognition. By 1995, Salvatore's had become a destination in its own right, allowing Russ to open an attached hotel, Salvatore's Garden Palace. Russ truly enjoyed every aspect of his daily work, and although he signed over the business to his son Joseph in 2003, he remained closely involved until 2006, when he chose to retire. Russ's passion for serving Western New York drew him out of retirement before long. He returned to work at age 75, opening Russell's Steaks, Chops, and More, in November 2008. Russell's quickly became one of our region's most prominent steakhouses. The month after, Russ opened Salvatore's Grand Hotel next to his new restaurant, creating another successful combination of a well-regarded hotel and fine dining establishment. Russ's philanthropic efforts are as renowned as his business endeavors. He is a public supporter of countless charities, events, scholarships, and causes. To encourage students pursuing careers in food service and hospitality, he formed a partnership with Trocaire College to found the Russell J. Salvatore School of Hospitality and Business. Situated on a satellite campus next to his new steakhouse, students at the school gain concrete experience through internships at Russell's Steaks, Chops and More, and Salvatore's Grand Hotel. In the wake of one of our region's most tragic days, Russ stepped in to aid heartbroken local families. On February 12, 2009, a passenger plane known as Flight 3407 crashed to the ground in Clarence Center, New York, killing all on board. To honor the fifty victims, Russ helped secure a memorial in Heroes and Patriots Park. Perhaps one of Russ's most well-known gestures is his purchase of 10,000 Buffalo Bills tickets, which prevented a ``black-out'' of a home game in December 2012. Russ's investment allowed one of the season's last games to be broadcast on local television. He donated nearly all 10,000 tickets to local organizations, patrons of his restaurant, and community members, to show his deep gratitude to the people of Western New York. Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to recognize Mr. Russell Salvatore's great contributions and admirable generosity. Buffalo is nicknamed the ``City of Good Neighbors,'' and Russ epitomizes this spirit. I congratulate him on the incredible honor of being named Executive of the Year, and I wish him continued fulfillment and the absolute best in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend and honor the Eastman Machine Company for its 125 years of business. Owned by the Stevenson family for the past five generations, Eastman revolutionized the apparel industry. Today, Eastman is undoubtedly the global standard for material handling, spreading, and cutting equipment. The Eastman Machine Company began in 1888, when Canadian inventor George Eastman developed the first fractional electric motor that could be mounted onto a cutting base. By attaching the motor to a reciprocating knife, he created the Eastman, the first electric fabric- cutting machine. The Eastman rendered manual cutting obsolete, transforming the apparel industry. Rather than painstakingly cutting materials by hand, the Eastman allowed companies to cut fabric mechanically, which exponentially increased production speeds while drastically lowering production costs. Ten years later, one of Eastman's first investors, Charles P. Stevenson, took over full ownership of the company. The Stevenson family holds the company to this day and remains intimately involved in all aspects of the business. C.P. Stevenson's son, Wade, assumed leadership in 1908, when he was just twenty-two years old. A shrewd businessman, Wade greatly expanded Eastman's markets. Initially, he propelled sales to reach across the country. By 1921, he was selling Eastman products in Europe, South America, and South Africa. To further increase sales, Wade developed numerous patents, each stemming from the original Eastman fabric cutter. Wade controlled Eastman Machine Company for sixty years, passing the company to his son C.P. ``Chuck'' Stevenson in 1968. Due to his leadership, Eastman acquired the world's leading producer of cloth spreading machines in 1974, Cutting Room Appliance Corporation. With this purchase Eastman became the unequivocal source for all types of apparel manufacturing and fabric cutting machines. In 1988, Robert L. Stevenson and Wade Stevenson bought the rapidly growing company from their father. Robert became President, and Wade remained in charge of international operations as Export President. Under their innovative leadership, they sought to make Eastman able to produce the complete set of material cutting and handling equipment. They understood that by controlling each piece of machinery, their customers would have the most efficient, economical solution, a truly revolutionary idea. To accommodate rapidly expanding and widely variable global markets, Eastman purchased North Technology Systems in 1995. North Technology Systems developed ground-breaking software used in computers that controlled cutting machines, and pioneered the use of materials Kevlar and Mylar, which allowed Eastman to expand into new industries that used composite and industrial fabrics. The Stevenson brothers continue to be passionate about their company's potential and visionary in their pursuit of it. Abroad, Eastman opened a factory in Ningbo, China, in 2004. In 2008, the company acquired Saber Industries of Nashville, Tennessee, improving spreading capacity. Today, the Eastman Machine Company has produced over one thousand automated systems located in over twenty countries. Since its humble beginnings in Buffalo, New York, it has become the world's foremost producer of material handling, spreading, and cutting equipment, with innumerable patents, and hundreds of machines, and facilities on five continents. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank you for allowing me to acknowledge the incredible legacy of the Eastman Machine Company and the ingenuity, dedication, and vision of the Stevenson family. I wish all those involved with this institution the best of luck in all future endeavors.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Dr. Thomas C. Rosenthal upon the occasion of his retirement from the University at Buffalo's Department of Family Medicine. As Chair of the department for twenty years, Dr. Rosenthal has made significant contributions to the field of public health in both academic research and patient practice, committed to improving the quality of health in the most underserved populations. Beginning his career in rural medicine in 1978, Dr. Rosenthal's love of research led to his position at the University at Buffalo. Dr. Rosenthal's prolific research publications demonstrate his comprehensive expertise in his field. His published work spans from articles in chemistry journals to topics in primary care, such as cancer screening and Alzheimer's disease. He is board-certified in Family Medicine and Geriatrics, and holds membership on the esteemed Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's Residency Review Committee for Family Medicine. During his time at the University at Buffalo, Dr. Rosenthal has educated thousands of students, practitioners, and community members about public health. His passion for rural health motivated him to create the Buffalo Family Medicine residency program's Rural Health Campus in Olean, New York. Only the second such training model in the country, the Rural Health Campus allows students to gain firsthand knowledge of the unique healthcare needs of our nation's rural communities. A trusted figure in his field, Dr. Rosenthal serves as the lead editor of the textbook Office Care Geriatrics, and as a reviewer for nine other journals. From 2006 to 2009, he edited The Journal of Rural Health. Throughout his illustrious career, he has sat on numerous national and statewide panels, including: the New York Rural Health Council, the Association of American Medical College Task Force on Rural Education, the New York State Academy of Family Physicians Education Committee, the policy board of the National Rural Health Association, and the Bioterrorism Task Force of the Medical Society of New York State. Dr. Rosenthal pioneered an interdisciplinary approach to public health, combining real-world practice with academic study, dedicated to bettering the quality of health in underserved communities. His health services research, which includes rural health, medical training, health care organization and workforce development, informs his patient practice, and vice versa. Dr. Rosenthal is known as much for compassionate practice as for his impressive academic career. He has drastically increased awareness of the dire public health crisis in medically underserved communities, and passionately strives to improve quality of health in the community's most suffering areas. He continues to see patients in the Jefferson Family Medicine Center, located in a poor neighborhood on Buffalo's East Side. In 1998, Dr. Rosenthal became the Founding Director of the New York State Area Health Education Center, AHEC, System. Today, he continues to serve as statewide Medical Director. This truly revolutionary organization strives towards Dr. Rosenthal's goal to improve access to quality health care in medically underserved communities on local, regional, and statewide levels, by encouraging both patients and practitioners to work together. The AHEC System joins with pre-existing institutions to bring dedicated healthcare professionals to communities in need, and educate community members about personal health care. By engaging devoted practitioners and empowering patients, the AHEC System has made enormous strides in combating our public health crisis. Mr. Speaker, please join my colleagues and I in honoring Dr. Thomas C. Rosenthal as he retires from the University at Buffalo's Department of Family Medicine. I admire his compassionate and visionary approach to public health, and wish him Godspeed in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary career of Captain John DeMarco, upon the occasion of his retirement from the Niagara Falls Police Department. A third-generation police officer, Captain DeMarco has a proud family legacy of public service. His grandfather was well-known as a Niagara Falls motorcycle cop. His father was a chief in the New York State Park Police, serving for forty years. His brother, Bob, will remain active in the Niagara Falls Police force as a Juvenile Detective. Prior to his career in the Niagara Falls Police Department, Captain DeMarco pursued higher education, earning a degree from Niagara University in 1972. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, honorably serving our nation for twelve years. Upon returning home to Niagara Falls, Captain DeMarco earned a place in the police department's patrol unit. He rose through the ranks, becoming a patrol lieutenant, then a deputy to Superintendent Christopher Carlin in 2000. When Superintendent Carlin left for active military duty from November 2001 to October 2002, he entrusted Captain DeMarco to serve as acting police superintendent, a role he continued to serve under Carlin's successor, John Chella. As an officer, Captain DeMarco understood and revered the police department's immense responsibility to protect their neighbors. He sought to build trusting relationships with community members, working in conjunction to create a safer Niagara Falls. Active within the community himself, he is a founding member of the Niagara Falls Law Enforcement Foundation and continues to serve on the Niagara Police Athletic League. Captain DeMarco served Niagara Falls with great pride and bravery. On February 7, 2009, two fellow officers, Walter Nichols Jr. and Michael D. Bird, were shot on South Avenue. The police force united, performing at their best to protect citizens and colleagues. Captain DeMarco valued the special bond between officers, and the great responsibility entrusted to the police force as the first to respond during crises. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me a few moments to acknowledge the career of Captain John DeMarco. I am grateful for his twenty-six years of service to Niagara Falls, and I wish him the best of luck as he brings his expertise in law enforcement to his new role as a faculty member in the Niagara University Criminal Justice Department.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on sequestration's effect on implementing safety regulations at the Federal Aviation Administration. This is an important reminder that critical deadlines for the release of rules regarding pilot qualifications and training are fast approaching. Just over 4 years ago, dozens of lives were lost as Continental Flight 3407 crashed in my western New York community. Since then, the families and friends of these victims have made countless visits to Washington, D.C., and advocated to ensure that what happened to their loved ones will never be repeated. Mr. Speaker, we cannot lose focus and allow further delays to the completion of these already long-overdue rules. I urge Congress to repeal the sequester for the safety of our flying public.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the American Society of Civil Engineers report card is out for the quality of America's infrastructure, and the results are a national disgrace and an embarrassment. America gets a D grade for the quality of its infrastructure. According to the World Economic Forum, we're 24th in infrastructure quality. In 2001, we were No. 2, and we also had a budgetary surplus. There are 69,000 structurally-deficient bridges in this Nation. Every second of every day, seven cars drive on a bridge that is structurally deficient; but the Republican budget plan that will be voted on this week cuts infrastructure spending by 32 percent per capita over the next 10 years. The United States Chamber of Commerce that represents the so-called job creators estimates that we will lose $336 billion in economic growth over the next 5 years. China spends 9 percent of its economy on infrastructure; Europe, 5 percent; the United States less than 3 percent. Moreover, you just spent $89 billion rebuilding the roads and bridges of Afghanistan, and $69 billion rebuilding the roads and bridges of Iraq, and you propose to cut infrastructure spending per capita by 32 percent. This is a national disgrace and embarrassment.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the Republican budget released earlier this week will move us in the wrong direction. It promises us growth through austerity, cutting $943 billion in discretionary spending, but history has proven that it just won't work. Time and again, we see when an economy is recovering from a recession and it embraces austerity, the economy tumbles. That's what happened in Europe over the past 2 years, that's what happened in Japan in the 1990s, and that's what happened in this country in 1937. We must learn from this lesson. In fact, experts say that the Republican budget will result in 2 million fewer American jobs and will decrease economic growth by 1.7 percent. Mr. Speaker, what we have to do is invest in our economy, nation- build here at home in America and in Americans. This is a vehicle for growth. We should not be cutting those kinds of investments. Austerity is shortsighted, and we should reject it.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the Buffalo River is identified by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as one of 43 areas of concern in the Great Lakes watershed. In 2011, a coalition of corporate and community partners teamed up with State and local governments to begin a multimillion-dollar cleanup of the Buffalo River. Unfortunately, sequestration and uncertainty about a new Federal budget threaten to delay this project. Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes are a unique national treasure with global significance. They are the largest source of surface freshwater on Earth, containing 20 percent of the world's supply. They contain 95 percent of America's freshwater, and they support 1.5 million jobs and $62 billion in wages in the shipping, recreation, and fishing industries. Preservation of our Great Lakes has both environmental and economic impacts and has always enjoyed bipartisan support. We cannot afford to allow sequestration to halt critical projects like the Buffalo River cleanup. I urge my colleagues to repeal the sequester and protect funding for the Great Lakes restoration.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. I was just going to mention where Tim was talking about infrastructure, the New America Foundation has a study out called, ``The Way Forward.'' And they propose spending $1.2 trillion on infrastructure, primarily because of the reasons that we stated here. Money is as cheap as it's ever going to be. Labor is cheap and equipment is cheap. But they further explain that it will create 25 million jobs over the next 5 years--$5 million the first year, reducing the unemployment rate from its current rate to 6.4 percent; $5 million in the second year, reducing the unemployment rate further to 5.4 percent. These are proven growth vehicles. And that's exactly what the economy does. And it will also put people back to work. All the construction trades, to their considerable credit, have a program called Helmets to Hardhats, where they take veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and they expedite their apprenticeship training and put them to work making $60,000, $70,000 a year. Do you really want to say thank you for your service on behalf of a grateful Nation? Put them to work rebuilding this Nation. We will spend--the Federal Government--in transportation infrastructure this year $53 billion. It's a disgrace. We're a Nation of 300 million people. You just spent as a Nation, the United States, $89 billion rebuilding the roads and bridges of Afghanistan. You spent $69 billion rebuilding the roads and bridges of Iraq. Those are nations of 30 million and 26 million respectively. But for a Nation of 300 million people you're going to spend $53 billion.

Mr. HIGGINS. We need them back here.

Mr. HIGGINS. I thank the gentleman from California. I think the infrastructure piece, as has been mentioned here previously, is a vehicle for growth. It is refreshing to see that this discussion tonight between three Members is about how to grow the economy. There is not an example in human history of an economy growing out of a recession from austerity measures. It didn't happen in Japan in the 1990s. It's not happening in Europe today, and it didn't happen in this country in 1937. So what we have to do is invest in education, as the gentleman has said, scientific research, and infrastructure. This weekend, former Republican candidate for President Rudy Giuliani talked about the importance of investments that have a return, that grow jobs and reduce debt and deficit. He talked about transportation infrastructure and rebuilding the roads and bridges of this country. The Republican budget that was released today, the Ryan budget, proposes to cut infrastructure spending over the next 10 years by $5.7 trillion. I would submit to you that we are moving in the wrong direction. We need to make investments in this economy.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Mary-Diana Pouli as she is honored by the Amherst Museum's Women's Interclub Council. Few have been so generous with their time and talents as Mary-Diana. Her extraordinary legacy of service began during her adolescence, and has continued to this day. A resident of Amherst since the 5th grade, Mary-Diana began volunteering with Amherst Youth Engaged in Service (YES), an organization founded to encourage community involvement and civic participation among children in Amherst from age twelve to twenty. It was through Amherst YES that Mary-Diana first became involved with the Amherst Youth Board, now the Amherst Recreation and Youth Department. She is one of the few people to surpass 1,000 hours of time spent volunteering with the organization, working with the department for over thirty years. Presently, she serves as the Recreation and Youth Director for the Town of Amherst. Mary-Diana's dedication to the young people of Amherst extends to her long involvement with the Amherst Youth Foundation. She currently serves as assistant treasurer and as a member of the board of directors, yet is known to cheerfully help wash dishes, move office equipment, and assist office staff. No task is too large or too small for Mary-Diana. Mary-Diana's good works have touched nearly every volunteer organization in the Town of Amherst. She is the former vice president and current treasurer of the Zonta Club of Amherst, a group dedicated to advancing the status of women and young people. Each December, the Zonta Club helps clothe 300 children through the Town of Amherst's Warm Clothing Project, of which Mary-Diana is a key part. Mary-Diana's strong faith inspires her many good works. A lifelong Presbyterian, Mary-Diana is ordained as both a deacon and an elder in the Amherst Presbyterian Church, and has chaired their Mission Committee. Using her special connection to young people, Mary-Diana volunteers with their Youth Group to foster new faith. She has had the great honor of representing her denomination on a national level as a small group leader at various conferences, including serving as conference dean at the Presbyterian Youth Trennium, an event held every three years at Purdue University. Mr. Speaker, it is with great appreciation that I rise to congratulate Mary-Diana Pouli as she is honored by the Amherst Museum's Women's Interclub Council. I am deeply grateful for her exceptional service, generous heart, and efforts that have bettered the lives of so many in Western New York.