Brian Higgins

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Can I just make another point before you turn it over to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan)? A lot of people here, in the majority, do a lot of complaining about spending. The irony is, they did all the spending. At the end of 2000 we had a budgetary surplus of $258 billion. They took that surplus and financed two wars that took $1.2 trillion out of the American economy. They financed a drug prescription program, unpaid for, that will cost us $1 trillion over 10 years. And they financed two tax cuts that didn't produce the kind of growth they were said to produce. In fact, after those tax cuts were enacted, disproportionately for the wealthy, we had the worst period of economic growth in the past 75 years. The Clinton administration produced 22 million private sector jobs. We had 4 percent annual economic growth, sustained over an 8-year period. That produces budgetary surpluses and reduces the debt. So that's the lesson that we should embrace, not the measures that the Republicans are proposing, because historically it hasn't produced the kind of growth that they promised that it would produce.

Mr. HIGGINS. According to Transportation for America, there are 69,000 structurally deficient bridges in this Nation. In my State of New York there are over 2,000 bridges that are structurally deficient. In western New York there are 99 bridges that are structurally deficient. Every second of every day, seven cars drive on a bridge that is structurally deficient. And as the gentleman from Ohio had pointed out, public infrastructure is the public's responsibility. It's as old as Lincoln. He called them land improvements and railroads at the time. So it's not a question of whether or not the public is going to improve the infrastructure. The question is when does it make the most sense. And we believe that money is as cheap as it's ever going to be, labor is as cheap as it's ever going to be, and equipment is as cheap as it's ever going to be.

Mr. HIGGINS. It cuts infrastructure spending by $5.7 trillion over 10 years. It doesn't do anything to the defense spending. So while we, the advocates of increased infrastructure spending, want to nation-build here at home, in America, the Ryan budget wants to continue to nation- build in Afghanistan and Iraq and other places. World War II ended in 1945. We still have 52,000 U.S. soldiers in Germany. We still have 49,000 U.S. soldiers in Japan. We still have 10,000 U.S. soldiers in Italy. We need to bring them home and nation- build here. And that's the Paul Ryan budget, not the Tim Ryan budget.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, this weekend I joined a trip led by Congressman John Lewis to some of the landmark sites of the civil rights struggle, culminating in a walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the 48th anniversary of that historic march. The trip underscored the importance of the Voting Rights Act, which is responsible for much of the progress we have made toward eliminating voter discrimination, and the need for the Supreme Court to uphold section 5 of the law in the case pending before it. Meanwhile, in Congress, we should be working to eliminate the inexcusably long lines at polling places across the country and ensure that every American who wants to cast a ballot is able to do so. Decades ago, Congressman Lewis helped lead the fight for the idea that all Americans should be able to participate in our democratic process. It is my hope that the Supreme Court and this Congress will honor that struggle in the years ahead.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Mr. E. William Miller, who passed away last Friday, February 22nd, 2013 at the age of 86. A family man and veteran who served many years as the chairman of the Town of Tonawanda's Youth, Parks and Recreation Department, Bill dedicated his career to bringing quality public facilities and activities to the people of Tonawanda. Bill was born in Buffalo, New York, on May 4th, 1926, and lived most of his childhood in Kenmore. Upon graduating in 1944 from the newly built Kenmore High School, he was drafted to serve our country in World War II. While in the Army, Bill fought in Belgium, France, and Germany, rising to the rank of staff sergeant before his discharge in 1946. During his first summer home from battle, he met his future wife, Barbara Frost, at Crystal Beach, a popular summer retreat for Western New Yorkers in Ontario, Canada. Bill and Barbara married in 1950. After graduating from Hobart College in 1951, Bill accepted a job installing telephone poles for the New York Telephone Company, and the couple moved to Dunkirk. Five years later, they returned to the Buffalo area, and built their first and only home in 1958. There, on Abbington Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda, they raised three children, and lived together until Barbara passed away in 2006. In 1973, Bill began his tenure on the Tonawanda Town Board, serving as chairman of the Youth, Parks, and Recreation Department. As a councilman, he was innovative both in vision and method, working tirelessly to bring progressive, utilitarian recreational facilities and programs to Tonawanda. Inspired by his family summers at Crystal Beach, Bill believed that all people, not just country-club members, should have access to high-quality recreational facilities. He understood that spaces for public recreation form the fabric of close- knit communities by giving neighbors opportunities to come together. Bill was instrumental in countless projects, including adding roofs to the Lincoln and Brighton ice arenas, replacing a deteriorating pool with the new Aquatic and Fitness Center, the Senior Citizens Center on Ensminger Road, the construction of a boat launch and docks on the Niagara River, the Paddock Golf Dome, a driving range, and lighted baseball fields. Over his years of service, he earned the nickname ``Mr. Recreation'' from his colleagues for his inimitable work. By the time he retired in 2002, Bill was deputy town supervisor. In addition to his time on the town board, Bill worked in the credit department at National Gypsum and as an administrator at many area hospitals. His devotion to good works extended to his personal life. He was a founding member and strong supporter of the Ken-Ton YMCA, and a lifelong member of the Deerhurst Presbyterian Church. Politically, he was a long-time member of the Ken-Ton Republican Party. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in expressing our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr. Bill Miller, especially his daughter, Lynda Vandermeer, and son, Gary. Like so many of his neighbors and friends, I am grateful for his many years of service to the Town of Tonawanda and Western New York.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the effect of sequestration on our borders will be felt especially hard in my western New York community, home to four crossings on the northern border. According to the Department of Homeland Security, if sequestration occurs, Customs and Border Protection will be forced to eliminate 2,700 officers and 5,000 Border Patrol agents. In addition to the job losses, this could mean delays of as long as 4 hours at our border crossings. $1.5 billion in goods and 300,000 individuals cross the U.S.-Canada border each and every day. Western New York businesses and institutions depend on predictable access to and from southern Ontario. Increased wait times will discourage Canadian consumers from visiting western New York, and that is business we can't afford to lose. I call on the House to take immediate action to repeal the sequester and to prevent this unnecessary injury to our economy.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, sequestration will have serious consequences for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, which is tremendously important to the economy of western New York. If Congress does not repeal the sequester, the Air Force will have to delay construction of a $6.1 million flight simulator at the base, a project that is critical to securing the base's continued operation. There would also be an impact on jobs: 2,300 Air Force civilians in New York will be furloughed, causing $17.7 million in lost wages across the State. Mr. Speaker, sequestration was the ransom the Tea Party demanded when it held the American economy hostage over the debt limit. But with 750,000 American jobs at stake, this process will inflict real and permanent damage on the American economy. Congress created the sequester. Congress can and should repeal it. For the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base and for our economy, I urge the House to do just that.

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 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 the extraordinary life and service of Paul Woods as he prepares to celebrate his 90th birthday on February 20th, 2013. Paul Woods was born in Basemore, Alabama, to Nora Fiels Woods and Anderson Sherman Woods. From an early age, the foundation of Paul's life was his family. Paul's family included six brothers and sisters in addition to seven half-brothers and sisters through his father. Sadly, Anderson Woods passed away when Paul was seven years old. Surviving relatives split up the seven children in order to care for them, leaving Paul to be raised by his wealthy Uncle Henry. In 1941, at age 17, Paul enlisted in the United States Army. He was immediately deployed to the Philippines to fight in World War II. Despite the Army's imposed racial segregation, Paul cared for his fellow soldiers like family, believing ``a bullet knows no race, rank, or status. We were all brothers on the battlefield.'' Paul took great pride in his service, and often told his children of landing on the Philippine shoreline in LST990 boats. Paul earned three Bronze Stars in the Philippines for his actions in combat. After his tour of duty, Paul served in the Military Occupation Specialties, delivering ammunition across the continent of Australia. In 1945 he was granted an honorable discharge. After returning home to Birmingham, Alabama, Paul met Mary T. Lucas, the love of his life. In 1953, the couple moved to Buffalo, and would reside in Western New York for the rest of their 59 year marriage. Paul began a 31 year career at Bethlehem Steel in July 1954, often working 16 hour days and nine shifts a week to support his family. In 1966, the Woods family moved to Angola, New York, but Paul continued to commute to Bethlehem Steel until the plant closed. Paul and Mary's family expanded to fourteen children over the course of their 59 year marriage. A true patriarch, Paul's greatest joy came from building his beautiful, thriving family. Paul believed in education as a tool to foster love and acceptance, and raised his children to value the same. All fourteen children attended college, and five followed their father's footsteps in the armed forces. As Paul's children had children of their own, Paul helped raise his nineteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, often commuting from Angola to Buffalo to pay them a visit. In addition to their biological family, Paul and Mary opened their door and hearts to countless foster children. As licensed foster care providers for Randolph Child and Adolescent Services, Paul and Mary were honored as ``Foster Parents of the Year'' in 1997. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me a few moments to recognize Paul Woods. I am inspired by his boundless capacity for love and devotion to his family, and I am proud to celebrate his life here today. I am proud to celebrate his 90th birthday here today, and I wish him good fortune for many years to come.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize six outstanding members of the senior class at Buffalo State College. Four members of the men's varsity basketball team, Anthony Hamer, Jake Simmons, Seth Runge, and Ken Owusu, and two members of the women's basketball team, Erica Derby and Alicia Bowman, will graduate this spring. I commend each of these students for their contributions to Buffalo State, and congratulate them at the culmination of their illustrious collegiate athletic careers. Scholar athletes have the unique challenge of balancing the academic demands of undergraduate work with the physical demands of a collegiate sports program. Full participation in each requires incredible discipline and commitment. Each student athlete is accountable not only to themselves, but to their teammates, coaches, and greater campus community. Despite such great expectations, Anthony, Jake, Seth, Ken, Erica and Alicia have excelled. Each will earn their bachelor's degree. Jake has the distinct honor of scoring the most points in the history of Buffalo State men's basketball. As an alumnus of Buffalo State College myself, I will be proud to call them fellow alumni. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing my colleagues to join me in recognizing these exceptional Buffalo State Bengals and wishing them the best as they complete their undergraduate careers. I have no doubt their work ethic and determination will bring them success in all their future endeavors.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Last night, President Obama argued that rebuilding American infrastructure is crucial to job creation, and with 70,000 structurally deficient bridges, it is long overdue. Today, the United States Chamber of Commerce is holding a summit on infrastructure investment. According to the U.S. Chamber, our broken infrastructure costs $78 billion annually in lost time and fuel, and we will experience $336 billion in lost growth over the next 5 years. Our decaying infrastructure is a significant drag on the economy. Freight rail bottlenecks cost us $200 billion a year--air traffic delays $33 billion a year. Our inadequate ports will lose up to $270 billion in exports by 2020, costing 738,000 jobs. Lots of people around here spend a lot of time whining about China. China invests 9 percent of its economy in infrastructure. We invest less than 3 percent. Stop whining about China and do something about it. President Obama and the U.S. Chamber agree that it's time to nation-build right here at home, right here in America, and Congress should listen.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today we will consider a House Republican message bill that makes a point about spending and budget deficits. The problem is all those who support this bill about spending did all the spending: two tax cuts that gave us the worst period of job growth in the past 75 years and our Nation's worst recession; two wars, unpaid for, that took $1.5 trillion out of the American economy; a drug prescription program, unpaid for, cost $1 trillion over ten years. The big spenders, who falsely claim to be concerned about the job creators are, in fact, the debt and deficit makers.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and accomplishments of a distinguished member of my Western New York community, Richard Edwards, Sr. Richard has been a lifelong resident of Amherst, New York, where he has served for over 50 years as a dedicated and valued member of Main- Transit Fire Department. During his years at Main-Transit, Richard served as the Fire Police Lieutenant and Fire Police Captain. Richard and his colleagues are American heroes. Every day they courageously place themselves in harm's way to protect the lives and properties of others. Their sacrifices are invaluable to our community and I thank him for his half-century of service. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor Richard Edwards, Sr. on his exemplary career.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Mr. James A. Coogan, who passed away on January 5, 2013, at the age of 73. A resident of the city of Tonawanda for the better part of his life, James Coogan was very active in community affairs and local Democratic politics, serving the people of Tonawanda for many years. James was a dedicated public servant who was Second Ward Alderman for the City of Tonawanda for two terms, from 1980 to 1983. In 1984, James was appointed Tonawanda City Clerk and held the position for ten years, until 1993. Additionally, James was a member of the Erie County Town Clerk's Association. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and Members of the House to express our deepest condolences to the family of the late James Coogan, and join with me in recognizing the many good works of service he performed during his long and full life.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago this Thursday, western New York teenager Amanda Hansen tragically passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of a defective boiler at a friend's home where she was spending the night. In response to this tragedy, the New York State Legislature designated January as Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month and passed Amanda's Law. Amanda's Law requires carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in all new single and multifamily homes and any rentals with a fuel-burning appliance system or attached garage. Mr. Speaker, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in this country. There's a simple way to lower that number: installation of carbon monoxide detectors in homes and residences. I commend the work of the Amanda Hansen Foundation and join them in encouraging all Americans to prevent carbon monoxide-related tragedies by installing detectors in their homes.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the people in this Chamber who do all the complaining about spending, the record clearly shows, voted for all the spending that they complain about: two wars that took $1 trillion out of the American economy, unfunded tax cuts that created the worst economy in 60 years, and an unpaid drug prescription program that will cost $730 billion over the next 10 years. Moreover, the House Republican budget for 2013 spends $900 billion more than it takes in in revenues. That Republican budget imbalance will require raising the debt ceiling early this year. Raising the debt ceiling does not authorize you to spend more money. It authorizes you to pay back the money that you've already spent. Republicans in this House voted for it, and they have a moral obligation to repay that money. Mr. Speaker, the American economy needs to grow much more than the projected 2 percent for 2013. Two percent growth is not enough to sustain the current level of employment. The American economy needs robust growth at 3 to 4 percent, growth that can only come from investments in education, road and bridge building, research. We need to do nation-building not in Afghanistan, not in Iraq, but nation- building at home, here in America.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, at midnight tonight, the Budget Control Act of 2011 and sequestration will trigger spending cuts of $1.2 trillion over 10 years, including $109 billion in 2013. We'll have 8.2 percent, or $54 billion, in domestic spending cuts funding to the National Cancer Institute that supports clinical trials for new cancer treatments. If you're a patient at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo and you're diagnosed with late-stage cancer, you don't have the luxury of time that these cuts demand. That's what sequestration means to cancer patients in Buffalo and throughout the Nation. We'll have 9.4 percent, or $55 billion, cut in defense spending. What does it mean to my community of Buffalo and western New York? MOOG, a world leader in motion control technology with a thriving defense unit, a $2.5 billion company that employs 8,400 people, takes a major hit. That's what sequestration means to the defense industry in Buffalo and throughout the Nation. Madam Speaker, sequestration cannot be viewed in the abstractions of Washington and this institution. Its real consequences will be felt hard by real people in real communities throughout this Nation, including in Buffalo and western New York.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes are our Nation's greatest natural resource. They are the source of 95 percent of our surface freshwater and are directly connected to 1.5 million jobs. Though efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes have made great strides over the past several decades, many challenges remain. Invasive species, pollution, and habitat loss in the Great Lakes have a negative effect on recreation and tourism, as well as on the general economy. I was pleased to sign a bipartisan letter along with other Members of the House to request at least $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in the President's fiscal year 2014 budget. Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been invaluable in efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes. I strongly encourage the President and my colleagues in Congress to ensure that it is fully funded going forward.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, this week, conferees met to reach an agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act. As we consider a final agreement, I rise in support of language in the conference report which prevents the movement and retirement of C-130 aircraft. Madam Speaker, western New York is home to the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, which hosts a robust fleet of C-130 aircraft. These aircraft were among the planes used to deliver supplies to the regions of New York and New Jersey in the aftermath of hurricane devastation. Additionally, these western New York aircraft flew over 1,500 missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Representatives Kathleen Hochul, Louise Slaughter, and I wrote to the conferees on this important issue, and we are pleased that the committee agreed to keep in language in the House-passed bill to maintain the C-130 fleet. I encourage the House to support the conference report language that will maintain the C-130 fleet.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and memory of a great Western New Yorker, Justin Kunick. Teacher and coach to many but inspiration to all, Kunick encouraged those around him to rise above the obstacles and put forth their best effort in the classroom, on the field and in all other arenas. No stranger to obstacles, Kunick faced his first when he was born with a heart defect and underwent surgery to save his life. Two years later further complications temporarily paralyzed the right side of his body forcing him to become dominant from his left. With a complicated medical record, one of the last places you would expect Kunick to be attracted to was the baseball diamond, but that's exactly what happened. Although he had lost the ability to operate fully from his right side, it did not stop him from pitching more games, 36 to be exact, than anyone in Keuka College history. After college Kunick left New York State, moving to Florida to teach chemistry and coach the game that he had come to love. He spent the next six years as an assistant coach at Ridgewood High School before moving to Fivay as its schools head coach. At Fivay, Kunick rebuilt the baseball program instilling discipline and encouraging perseverance. He developed close relationships with his players and created a reputation as a coach who would do anything for his boys. Eventually a new team motto sprouted from his leadership, rise above. In February, Kunick encountered a new hurtle after being diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. Living up to his team motto, he quickly underwent surgery and was back on the field the next week. In and out of the hospital, Kunick watched over his team contacting them by phone and text messages between innings. On April 27th Justin Kunick lost his battle with cancer at the age of only 32. Although he is no longer with us, his spirit lives on in his students and players. Kunick believed that you could overcome anything life threw at you; as long as you were giving it your all, you were rising above. Mr. Speaker, today I call on my colleagues in Congress to join me in celebrating the life and spirit of a great man who lived with enduring principles. It is my privilege to honor Justin Kunick's memory today.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. I thank the gentleman. At the outset, my colleague from California, a great leader on this issue, had said that it was 12 years ago when we had a budgetary surplus of $258 billion. How was that created? It was created by having created 22 million private sector jobs in the previous 8 years, telling us that the best tax policy is bringing back lost taxpayers to productivity so that they're contributing to the Federal Treasury. That allows us to make the investments into our economy and, as my colleague from New York said, to nation-build right here at home. One thing that historically here Democrats and Republicans were able to agree on is infrastructure investment. I think the need is extraordinarily great right now, and we should do an infrastructure bill that is robust and aspirational in addressing the infrastructure needs and the decaying state of our infrastructure as soon as possible. A final thought on this. There's a report out of the State of Nevada that says if you defer infrastructure repair for 2 years, you increase the cost of making that repair by a factor of five. So a $5 million bridge repair that could be done today, 2 years from now will cost you $25 million. A $1 million road repair today will cost you $5 million 2 years from now. So we need to get to work, and much work needs to be done.

Mr. HIGGINS. I thank the gentlemen from California and from Pennsylvania for their leadership on these issues--jobs and protecting Medicare long into the future. As we know, there's a debate going on here about the fiscal cliff. I think the American people are looking for leadership in Washington. They want a plan, and I think they are willing to endure some pain that will be in the form of spending cuts and perhaps some increased revenues, but the American people also want a plan that is going to be aspirational. The fact of the matter is our infrastructure in this Nation is falling apart. According to the American Society for Civil Engineers, they give us a D grade for the quality of our infrastructure. They tell us that $2.2 trillion is needed just to bring our current infrastructure to a state of good repair. That's not even taking into consideration new infrastructure needs that we're seeing in New York and New Jersey as a result of the storms there. Infrastructure investment is also a job creator, a creator of American jobs. When you invest in infrastructure, you're buying labor from American businesses. When you invest in infrastructure, you're buying equipment from American businesses. Now, with public infrastructure, it's as old as Lincoln. He called it land improvements. He meant ports and railroads at the time. Public infrastructure is always the public's responsibility. So the question is never whether or not you're going to do it--you have to do it--the question is when does it make most sense. I would submit to you that it makes most sense today. Why? Because money is as cheap as it's ever going to be. Every municipal government throughout this country borrows money by issuing debt--bonds--to underwrite the cost of building new infrastructure. We could be borrowing money today for about 1 percent. Labor is cheap, equipment is cheap because both are idling. And we clearly need the infrastructure investment. Final thought on this: Transportation for America, a not-for-profit organization, identifies 69,000 structurally deficient bridges in this Nation. There's over 2,000 structurally deficient bridges in my State of New York; and in western New York, we have 99 structurally deficient bridges. Every second of every day, seven cars drive on a bridge that is structurally deficient. We saw a bridge collapse in New York State in 1987, the Harley Creek Bridge, loss of life and significant injury. We saw it again, subsequent to that, in Minneapolis. How many more bridges have to collapse before we address this need? We're going to spend less than $53 billion rebuilding the roads and bridges of America next year, less than $53 billion. It's weak and it's pathetically weak when you consider that we just spent $89 billion rebuilding the roads and bridges of Afghanistan, and we just spent $67 billion rebuilding the roads and bridges of Iraq. Work needs to be done, and Americans need the work. With that, I yield back to my friend from California.

Mr. HIGGINS. Thank you. My colleague from New York is obviously very familiar with all of the issues that we're confronted with, but we also recognize that our Governor had the presence of mind in putting the package together for Federal relief for reimbursement to seek infrastructure money to rebuild the infrastructure that was destroyed in a way that would mitigate or reduce the damage in a future storm, because here's what we know with global warming. Storms are becoming much more severe. And whether it's New Orleans or whether it's Queens, New York, we are going to see another storm. It also underscores the need for infrastructure investment to mitigate the damage, because by making that upfront investment--those mitigation factors--it will reduce the amount of damage when the next storm hits if, in fact, our Nation can meet that challenge of rebuilding our infrastructure in a way that it ought to be built.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, there are many lessons to be learned in the wake of the hurricane that devastated parts of New York and New Jersey, one of which is the importance of electronic medical records and health information technology. While many hospitals and medical centers were damaged by the storm, hospitals that employed electronic medical records were able to ensure that vital health information was maintained and not lost. Not only that, electronic medical records enabled continuity of care as patients were transferred between hospitals. Mr. Speaker, this is just one example of how electronic health records can improve quality of patient care, integrate health systems, and ultimately, reduce unnecessary costs. My western New York community was an early adopter of electronic medical records and has since been recognized nationally as a leader in health information technology. I urge the House to continue the widespread adoption of health information technology and to assist in its expansion across the country.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We hear a lot of the rhetoric on debt and deficit, and I think it requires a recent review of history. Less than 12 years ago, the United States had a $258 billion budgetary surplus, meaning that we were taking in $258 billion more each year than we were spending. That budget surplus 12 years ago was a direct result of having created 22 million private sector jobs in the previous 8 years, underscoring the fact that the best tax policy is bringing back lost taxpayers to productivity, more people contributing to the Federal Treasury and less people dependent on governmental programs. That $258 billion budgetary surplus was used as justification to enact tax cuts in 2001 and in 2003. Those tax cuts disproportionately benefited the wealthy. The supply side theory, if you ascribe to it, says that if you give large tax cuts to the very wealthy, that money will find its way back into the economy in new business investment and job growth. Eight years later, we had the worst recession in the history of this Nation, and we had the worst job loss in 60 years. This economy is not growing to the extent that it needs to in order to produce employment. It's growing at about 1\1/2\ to 2 percent, which is not enough to sustain the current level of employment today, meaning that without additional growth in this economy, we will have increases in unemployment in this Nation. So what do we need to do? We need to invest in the American economy. We need to nation-build, not in Iraq, not in Afghanistan but right here at home, in America. After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, we were chasing the losers of globalization, al Qaeda, bin Laden, two bad elements that had to be dealt with. But we should have been also chasing the winners of globalization, those economies like China and India that were investing in their own economies and their own people to produce job growth. That's what's needed here. Those who do all the complaining about spending around here are those who are responsible for all the spending. In fact, in fiscal year 2013, we will have a $900 billion budget deficit attributable to the Bush tax cuts, $137 billion for the cost of war, and $354 billion in the lingering impact from the recession. What we need to do is invest in America, in infrastructure, in scientific research and in education. It's a different world. We need to compete more effectively and do what other countries are doing. Why is it that Germany, a country that has one-fourth of the population of the United States, exports more than what the United States does? Because if you look at our Tax Code, it's broken and it needs reform. Industries in the United States that are employing Americans are given 2-year tax credits, and we expect those American companies to make generational commitments on a 2-year tax credit. Look at places like Germany. They're providing 10-year tax credits. That sends a signal, a signal of certainty and a signal of clarity to businesses in Germany that there is a commitment to embrace innovation and technology to remain competitive in the manufacturing economy. Manufacturing today is not labor intensive. It's capital intensive. You always have to be in a continuous improvement mode. But that requires one thing. It requires a confidence in the American people, a confidence in the American worker in making the kind of commitments that are necessary to compete with China. I often hear people on this floor every day whining about China. Yeah, China cheats on their currency. They treat their workers poorly, and they destroy their environment. But the best response to China's growth is to stand up and compete with China and not whine about China. Most American jobs are not outsourced to China. They're outsourced to the past because we failed to make the kinds of investments that are necessary to keep the economy growing. So what's the answer to all of this? Every economist that you talk to, regardless of their political persuasion, will tell you that we have a growth problem. So how do you grow your economy? You invest in it. The New America Foundation, a centrist, prestigious think tank here in Washington, says that we should spend--that's right, we should spend--and invest $1.2 trillion in a 5-year nation-building program right here in America. That nation-building program will create 27 million jobs over the next 5 years, adding 5.2 million in the first year alone--5.2 million jobs in the first year alone, or 433,000 jobs each month. Can you imagine if in the spring of 2013 that we had jobs reports that were showing that we were adding 400,000 to 500,000 jobs each month? This economy would soar. Unemployment would be reduced in the first year alone to 6.2 percent and in the second year to 5.6 percent. This added growth in the economy would return $592 billion to the Treasury in increased tax receipts. So the $1.2 trillion that you invest in rebuilding this Nation, that you invest in putting unemployed people back to work, returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, will produce almost $600 billion in economic growth while we're rebuilding the infrastructure of this Nation. And I will tell you, we need to rebuild the infrastructure of this Nation. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives us a D rating for the quality of our infrastructure. The World Economic Forum says that we are 24th--24th--in structurally deficient infrastructure. In 2001, when we made all those investments in the American economy, we were number two in the quality of our infrastructure. Transportation for America says that there are 63,000 structurally deficient bridges in this Nation. In New York State alone, there are over 2,000 bridges that are structurally deficient. In my hometown in western New York, there are over 99 bridges that are structurally deficient. Every second of every day, seven cars drive on a bridge carrying our families that is structurally deficient. This is pathetic. The electricity grid in this Nation ranks 32nd in the world in reliability--an embarrassment. The United States Chamber of Commerce, which should be leading this effort, which should be leading this effort to invest in American infrastructure by investing in American businesses and investing in American workers, says that we lose because of the poor quality of our infrastructure--$336 billion in lost growth over the next 5 years alone. The United States Department of Transportation says that freight train bottlenecks cost our economy $200 billion a year, or 1 percent of our economy. The Federal Aviation Administration says air traffic delays cost $33 billion last year. We need to double spending on ports by the year 2020 or lose another $270 billion in exports. China--keep complaining about China. But do you know what? They spend about 9 percent of their economy on infrastructure, on roads and bridges, on doing nation-building right in their home. Europe spends 5 percent. The United States spends less than 3 percent of its economy on infrastructure improvements. So the need is very clear. So is this Congress, is Washington responding to the need? Well, not really. Not really. Think about this for a moment: This Congress will spend $105 billion next year on rebuilding the roads and bridges of this Nation, a nation of 300 million people, where every objective observer understands the need for infrastructure investment. So less than $53 billion in each of the next 2 years. You can't spend any more, right? Well, wait a minute. You just spent $89 billion rebuilding the roads and bridge of Afghanistan. You just spent $67 billion rebuilding the roads and bridges of Iraq. Those nations are 30 million and 26 million respectively. Yet, for a nation of 300 million people, you could only come up with less than $53 billion in each of the next few years? When the American Society of Civil Engineers says just to bring your infrastructure to a state of good repair it will cost you $2.2 trillion, it's weak. In fact, it's pathetically weak. So, the lessons about economic growth are found in our recent history. And the lessons of austerity, unfortunately, are right in front of us. In 1937, when the American economy was coming out of the Great Depression, we showed signs of anemic growth, and as opposed to spending more to invest in that growth, the President and Congress pulled back in 1937, and what happened? The economy went back into recession again. In the 1990s in Japan, they tried extensive austerity measures only to put that economy into a recession for an entire decade. In Europe today and over the past 2 years, austerity measures have prolonged, not taken that area out of recession. In Greece--we often hear Members of this House who say the United States economy is going to be like Greece. Oh, really? Greece is not growing. Greece has lost 25 percent of its economy in the past 5 years. Greece's economy shrunk by 7 percent this year alone. There is a 20 percent unemployment rate in Greece, and it's even higher for younger people. Greece doesn't make anything that the rest of the world wants. The American economy is dynamic, but the American economy always needs to be improving with education, scientific research, and infrastructure investment. A rational political system would respond much differently than what is going on here in this Congress. We're talking about spending cuts and tax cuts to be extended that haven't produced economic growth. All the people that are talking about spending did all the spending. They're the debt and deficit creators. If we want to experience economic growth, we have to invest in this economy. It is critically important to the future of this Nation. Medical research. We need to enhance, not cut, funding to the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. Thirty years ago if you were diagnosed with cancer, fewer than 50 percent of those who were diagnosed lived beyond 5 years of their diagnosis. Because of a robust commitment to cancer research in the 1990s, under a Democratic administration, the survival rate now beyond 5 years for adults is 60 percent and for kids it is 80 percent. You're investing into medical research, into scientific research to create the jobs of the 21st century. I know that for my community in Buffalo in western New York, that gave the Nation and the world cancer research, that gave the Nation and the world chemotherapy in 1904. Making those investments has created a dynamic new economy in downtown Buffalo, which used to be a manufacturing economy. It's called the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus. The Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the first comprehensive cancer institute in the entire Nation, is leading the job growth there with 12,000 new jobs and is projected to grow another 4,000 over the next 5 years because you had a Nation that had the confidence in our scientific community to make the kinds of investments that create a diversified and strong economy so that we're not outsourcing jobs to the past but investing to create jobs for the future. Manufacturing in this Nation is not dead. It will die if you continue to simply whine about China. You need to make the investments in worker training, in new technology, in innovation to ensure that the workers that will require 20 years, that go four or five on one piece of machinery--now you've got one worker on four pieces of machinery. This is what you have to do in order to remain competitive in this world economy. All the books have been written. In Fareed Zakaria's ``The Post- American world,'' he doesn't argue that the American economy is slipping quickly or deeply. He calls it ``the rise of the rest,'' that other economies are investing in their people and in their future. Tom Friedman and Mike Mandelbaum, who wrote the book ``That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind the World it Invented,'' say that because of information technology, regardless of size, distance, and increasingly language, every country now can participate in a global platform to realize the great economic benefits of globalization. You can't compete in the new world, in the new economy without making investments in your people, your infrastructure, and the scientific research that's important. China over the next couple of years will catch up to us in terms of the number of patents it produces. Patent production is an indication of future economic growth. For the past 75 years, we've lead the world in the number of patents that we produced. China will overtake us. That is a direct result of not investing in your own people and in scientific research. As I have said throughout this discussion tonight, there are many other areas that we can go into. The bottom line is this: all this talk about debt and deficit--12 years ago we had a budgetary surplus in this Nation of $258 billion. Now we have record deficits. That surplus was created because we had the confidence to invest in the American people, to do nation-building right here at home. A strong prosperous America is the best America in terms of our foreign policy, as well. We become the aspiration for the rest of the world when America is doing what it ought to be doing, when it doesn't fear its own people, when it seeks not to divide the Nation, but bring it together. Hubert Humphrey once said that the greatest foreign policy initiative of the Johnson administration was the Civil Rights Act. Although it was a domestic policy, what he was saying was that when America acknowledges its mistakes, when America lives up to its ideals, it becomes an inspiration for the rest of the world. All of those areas of the economy that Tom Friedman writes about in ``That Used to Be Us'' and ``The World is Flat,'' America used to lead. We don't any more. We cultivated great artists, but we also cultivated the greatest economy in the history of the world. People that couldn't demonstrate--Rostropovich couldn't conduct an orchestra in his motherland. He came to America because we are a free Nation that celebrates and embraces the arts, and at the same time produces economic growth and opportunity for generations of people. Tonight, I challenge my colleagues in the United States Congress to stand up for America, to do nation-building right here at home by investing in our own people, not $89 billion in rebuilding the roads and bridges of Afghanistan, but a trillion dollars to rebuild the roads and bridges of America; not $67 billion to rebuild the roads and bridges of Iraq, but a trillion dollars to rebuild the roads and bridges of America. Everybody here talks a great game about thanking our veterans for their service, but you know what the problem is? We have returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are experiencing an unemployment rate of 30 percent. If you want to say thank you on behalf of a grateful Nation, you create an economy that gives them an opportunity to realize their full potential as individuals. Sixty-seven percent of the deaths of American soldiers in Afghanistan are attributed to improvised explosive devices. Sixty-four percent of the deaths in Iraq are attributed to improvised explosive devices. Do you know how you defeat an IED? Don't be there. So we need to do nation-building right here at home. We need to grow this economy by investing in it in order to reduce debt and deficit and create employment and opportunity for future generations. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.