Brian Higgins

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Henry ``Hank'' Piorowski, a loving husband, proud father, and a distinguished veteran who earned national recognition for his instrumental role in helping to create ``Drug Court.'' In 1994, under the leadership of the Chief Judge of Buffalo City Court, the Honorable Thomas Amodeo, and Justice Robert T. Russell, Hank led the study to determine how the traditional criminal justice system could be improved and to develop a centralized tracking system to ensure judges received timely updates. With no additional funds, this court analyst became the newly designated Project Director with Buffalo's City Court innovative C.O.U.R.T.S. (Court Outreach Unit: Referral and Treatment Services) that began to identify defendants' social problems and link them to needed services. Hank once described his role as ``a treatment and communication broker for the court. We basically can meet any need of a person who comes through the doors.'' And under his direction, needs were met, results measured, and responsibility and reform rewarded. The program linked individuals coming through the justice system with a full range of social services, including drug treatment, mental health treatment, medical care, anger management, family counseling, youth counseling, and domestic violence programming, vocational/educational services, and housing. Within ten years, the C.O.U.R.T.S. program had made over 40,000 referrals. From 2000 to 2005, defendants completed over 75,500 hours of community service, including graffiti removal and demolition of crack houses. The value of labor contributed to the community during that time was estimated to be $453,000. Mental Health and Veterans Courts would follow this model which has since been successfully replicated across this country. His profound sense of professionalism, humanity, and collaboration was recognized by the New York State Bar Association Justice award in 2003. Hank's ability to successfully integrate the value of community partnerships and the implementation of information technology within the criminal justice system led to national recognition as he became the first western New York resident to be inducted into the Stanley M. Goldstein Drug Court Hall of Fame. Retired in 2010, Hank lost his battle with a long, debilitating illness on February 12. He is survived by his loving family which includes wife, Gloria, son, Henry, four sisters and two brothers and many nieces and nephews. His legacy of public service will now be carried on by his son who took the oath of office as the Council President in the City of Lackawanna on January 1, 2012. Henry ``Hank'' Piorowski will be missed but he will be remembered by those whose lives were made better and whose families were reunited though his work and commitment to the soldier's creed to ``leave no one behind.''

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, on Monday, President Obama released his 2013 budget proposal. The budget recognizes that infrastructure investments are necessary to create an environment of growth. For western New York in particular, we are pleased it includes measures that benefit the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Buffalo Coast Guard, Jamestown Airport, and our Great Lakes. We need only look at the United States in 1937, Japan in the 1990s, and Europe over the last couple of years to understand the dire consequences of government pulling back at a time of economic uncertainty. For this reason, I wish the budget had gone a little further. A New America Foundation report makes the case that investing $1.2 trillion over the next 5 years rebuilding the infrastructure of this Nation will create 27 million jobs in 5 years. This job growth would cut the debt and deficit and create jobs for Americans, for these jobs cannot be outsourced.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life Mr. Dennis Kahn, a great citizen and prominent attorney in my western New York Community. Mr. Kahn passed away on February 6th, 2012 at the young age of 60. Mr. Kahn was one of Buffalo's brightest and most successful attorneys. He earned his law degree from the University of Akron after completing undergraduate work at the University at Buffalo. He began his practice in 1976 and became partner at a firm that eventually bore his name, Siegel Kelleher & Kahn, focusing on personal injury law. Mr. Kahn helped expand the firm to the sixth-largest law firm in western New York. He was recognized in ``Who's Who'' in law and nominated as ``Best in Field--Personal Injury''. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Kahn served as a member of the Erie County, New York State, and American Bar Associations. He was admitted to practice before U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, and Federal Tax Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Khan also served as a member of the advisory board for Bry-Lin Hospitals and is a former member of the board of trustees for Shea's Performing Arts Center. I was privileged to introduce Dennis at an American Cancer Society event in 2011. Dennis was a tireless advocate in the fight against cancer and I was proud to stand with him in that fight. We will carry on this mission in his memory, reflecting on the passion with which he waged his fight against this terrible disease. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my deepest condolences to Dennis's wife, Carrie, his son, Max, and the rest of the Kahn family.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, the Great Lakes are the largest source of freshwater in the world, and they support vital shipping and recreation jobs. The fishery alone accounts for $7 billion in annual economic activity. But the Great Lakes face a very real threat from the Asian carp, which are progressing from the Mississippi River to the Illinois River and are nearing Lake Michigan. If this invasive species enters the lakes, it could decimate Great Lakes fishing and recreation. Last month, the Great Lakes Commission released a report recommending the construction of a barrier to separate the Mississippi River from Lake Michigan in order to protect the lakes from the Asian carp. I joined my colleagues from the Great Lakes Task Force in sending a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers asking them to consider this report as they study the best ways of keeping the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes Basin. Madam Speaker, the Asian carp have not yet entered the lakes, but there are very real reasons for concern, as scientists say that the conditions of Lake Erie are perfect to support this species of fish. It is essential to our economy and our environment that we all work together to protect and restore this underappreciated asset.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague Congresswoman Kathy Hochul, to recognize the upcoming third anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in my western New York community. This tragedy, unfortunately, was preventable. The National Transportation Safety Board found that the chief cause of the crash was pilot error. In August of 2010, President Obama signed into law aviation safety legislation, which, among other things, required the Federal Aviation Administration to update flight and duty time rules and to set minimum rest requirements for pilots. As the families know too well, the passage of time never really heals the tragic memory of that day, but they persevered. They became a true citizen army for aviation safety and achieved the most comprehensive aviation reform in 50 years. In their efforts, they were guided by their faith and by the light of those they loved and lost. We recognize their extraordinary efforts on behalf of the western New York community, of the flying public, and of a grateful Nation.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, tens of millions of Americans will gather with family and friends to watch the Super Bowl. Many from my western New York community will be among them. Unfortunately, western New York families do not always have the opportunity to watch their hometown team, the Buffalo Bills. The NFL's blackout rule prohibits the broadcast of a game in a team's home market if the game has not been sold out within 72 hours of the kickoff. In Buffalo, this meant that this past season almost half of the Bills games were blacked out. This is unacceptable. We have a strong and enthusiastic fan base; but with one of the largest football stadiums in the National Football League, Buffalo must sell 6,000 more tickets than the league's average to avoid a blackout. I have sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Goodell, along with my colleagues Congresswoman Kathy Hochul, Congressman Ross, and Congresswoman Brown, asking for an end to this unfair policy. It is time for the league to update this regulation, taking into account factors like stadium and media market size and, most importantly, the tough financial situation millions of families across the Nation find themselves in.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, earlier this week I had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion in western New York on innovations in health care. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Bill Corr was in attendance, as were many innovation leaders from my community. My community of Buffalo and western New York has been a real leader in embracing health care innovations to promote the efficient and cost-effective delivery of quality health care services. Buffalo was the Nation's largest recipient of the Federal Government's Beacon Grant for comprehensive integration of electronic medical records. Buffalo's Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the Nation's first comprehensive cancer center, was recently designated to conduct clinical trials for promising new therapies using vaccines to bolster the body's immune system to fight cancer. The successful result of this clinical trial could fundamentally change the science of cancer research and treatment. Innovation in health care must be sustained by the Federal Government. Today, the National Institutes of Health rejects nine of 10 applications for promising research due to lack of funding. Ten years ago, 25 percent of the National Cancer Institute's research grants were funded; today, it's 8 percent. The only failure in cancer research is when you quit or you're forced to quit because of lack of funding. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support fully cancer funding.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I bring to this House and the Nation great news from Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. Roswell Park is the first comprehensive cancer institute in the entire Nation. Today, they are launching a clinical trial to test the use of a cancer vaccine as therapy to kill cancer cells and to prevent a relapse of the disease. The vaccine is designed to boost the body's immune system to fight and destroy cancer cells. The vaccine has shown early promise in treating ovarian, bladder, brain, and breast cancer. The vaccine's exciting potential is a direct result of many years of cancer research. For cancer research to be effective, it has to be sustained over the longer term. It can't stop and start because you lose promising research and promising researchers. So my message to Congress today is that the only failure in cancer research is when you quit or you're forced to quit because of a lack of funding. I urge my colleagues to fully fund cancer research in the 2012 budget.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to recognize The Town of Collins Fire Department on the occasion of their 120th anniversary. On September 29, 1892, the Town of Collins residents took the initiative to fill a community need and formed their own fire department made up of 26 men led by H.F. Clark. These men operated with minimal equipment, comprising of one hand drawn pumper. The Collins Center Volunteers didn't have a fire house or regular meetings at the time and stored their pumper in the barn of D.W. Wood. But in 1902, the barn burned and the men acted by converting the former wagon shop of John Auwerter into a fire hall and town jail and thus, the Collins Center Volunteers finally had a home. The members hosted several meetings and the fire company became much like a social club for the men in town. In 1922 the Collins Center Volunteers purchased their first horse- drawn gasoline engine for $750.00 which helped them cover the extensive area. But even with new equipment, it was decided that the area was too great a challenge to cover for these men. So on April 21, 1925, the Collins Fire Company was formed, and they drastically reduced their coverage area while increasing fire protection. The transformation of the Fire Department continued as the Collins and Collins Center Fire Companies merged to become the Town of Collins Fire District along with the merge the Board of Fire Commissioners was created. The Fire Department would hold annual fundraisers to increase their budget and build their Department. Today, the firefighters train in numerous areas including firefighting pump operation, water supply, forestry fire, incident command, auto extrication, and search and rescue operations. The Fire Department has truly evolved over the years, and it could not have happened without the strong backing of such a vibrant, hard working community. It is with great pleasure that I stand today to honor the Town of Collins Fire Department on their 120th anniversary of serving and protecting the community. The Collins Center Volunteer Fire Company has consistently answered the call to service, whether as volunteers or as active reservists. It is my privilege to join with this fine organization on the evening of Saturday, January 21, 2012 and recognize the unwavering service of the Town of Collins Fire Company.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss an issue of great importance to western New York, the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have one of the most dedicated fan bases of any football franchise in the entire country. Since 1960, Bills fans have embraced and supported the team, both emotionally and financially. Today, the Buffalo Bills franchise is an integral part of the New York State economy. But harsh blackout provisions threaten New Yorkers' ability to watch their team on television. The blackout rule requires that a stadium be sold out 72 hours in advance in order to broadcast a football game locally. In Buffalo, this means that, in order to avoid a blackout, the Bills must sell more tickets than the league average in one of the league's smallest markets. Last year, almost half of the Bills' home games were blacked out. This is unacceptable. This morning I sent a letter to the FCC Chairman asking that he eliminate this unfair rule, which does not provide for individual solutions to different local markets. The FCC has opened a public comment period on this matter, and I urge fans who feel similarly to do the same. In the meantime, I will continue this fight.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we marked the end of the war in Iraq. I join with all of my colleagues in expressing our gratitude to those Americans who served when their country called. We owe it to our returning veterans to do everything we can to make sure that the economy they are returning to is strong and prosperous. The United States spent $62 billion nation building in Iraq. The end of the war will generate enough savings to put a downpayment on nation building we need to do right here in America. An aggressive investment in infrastructure, rebuilding our roads, bridges, rails, and water systems can generate the economic activity we need to reduce unemployment. A $1.2 trillion investment will create 27 million jobs over 5 years. This growth will both reduce the debt and deficit. We have deferred infrastructure investments in America for too long. We get a D grade from the Society of Civil Engineers. The Chamber of Commerce predicts $362 billion in lost growth over the next 5 years will occur unless we repair our infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, we need to do everything we can to ensure that our returning veterans have an opportunity to work and to rebuild this Nation right here at home.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I believe that one of the keys to keeping our country globally competitive is to increase the number of American students who are prepared to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology. So it is with special pride that I note that, last week, the White House honored Tamara Brown from Hamburg, New York, as a champion of change for her work with young women and their parents and teachers. Seven years ago, Tamara founded Tech Savvy, a program using fun and innovation to inspire students to explore their talents in science and math and to pursue our Nation's careers of the future. In bringing together industry, academic and community leaders, Tamara has helped so many young western New Yorkers discover their full potential. She has helped prepare them for some of our Nation's highest-paying and most competitive career fields. I applaud Tamara Brown for helping girls from western New York train for careers in science, and I congratulate her on this wonderful recognition.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I rise to express my concern about the direction of the Urban Area Security Initiative program. UASI was created to develop capabilities to prevent and to respond to attacks and catastrophes in our most vulnerable cities. The program has helped develop joint initiatives among local governments in my community of Buffalo-Niagara. We have an obligation to protect this investment and the capability gains developed across the country. Yet recent drastic cuts in the UASI funding have resulted in the elimination of 32 of the 64 urban areas from the program. That puts the preparedness and security capability gains we've achieved at risk. In order to raise awareness of this problem, this week I formed the Preserving UASI Capability Gains Caucus with Congressman Steve Stivers of Columbus, Ohio. I also introduced legislation to preserve the capability gains achieved by communities like Buffalo that were dropped from the UASI program. I urge my colleagues who represent UASI communities to join our caucus so that we can protect our capability gains and ensure our communities are properly secured.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today the House will debate extending the payroll tax cut. I strongly urge extending this tax cut. If we don't, tens of millions of New York families will see an average tax increase of $1,000 next year, and as many as 400,000 jobs could be lost nationwide. But, frankly, it is ridiculous that we are considering this legislation on the floor today. With so many unrelated riders attached to the bill, we know it is dead on arrival in the Senate. This charade will create anxiety among middle class Americans that their taxes are about to go up, and it will create economic uncertainty during the holiday season when so much of our economy is based on consumer confidence and spending. The same Congress that took us to the edge of a government shutdown and defaulting on our debt is again choosing brinksmanship over leadership, regardless of the impact on our economy and the middle class. I urge the House to reject this bill and pass a clean extension of the payroll tax cut that we know will pass the Senate and become law immediately.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and accomplishments of a distinguished public servant and friend, the Mayor of the City of Dunkirk, New York, the Honorable Richard Frey. With a long career in the private sector--and distinguished wartime service in Korea, including earning the Purple Heart--before running for Mayor, Dick Frey has unquestionably been a hands-on Mayor for the residents of Dunkirk. Dick's key focus as Mayor was community revitalization and economic development, and he delivered for his constituents. On each example of progress you see in Dunkirk today--from waterfront development to the Dunkirk Boardwalk Market, from the SUNY Fredonia Incubator to the redevelopment of the vacant Crocker-Sprague building--you see Dick Frey's fingerprints. Through Dick's efforts, underutilized recreational parks and other brownfields throughout the city were turned into clean and development-ready sites. Never shy about fighting for his city, I first met Dick Frey in 2005, shortly after I took office representing Dunkirk and Chautauqua County as a Member of Congress, and I'll confess to being a little concerned. After all, Dunkirk and Chautauqua had not been represented in Congress by a Democrat in nearly a generation. But after our first meeting, two things were clear: number one, Dick Frey was a man of his word who passionately cares about the constituents he served; number two, Dick Frey cares about people, and not politics. Dick once said in an interview with the Dunkirk Observer newspaper, ``As far as politics go, you can expect to leave politics at the door when dealing with [people's] concerns.'' That statement embodies my experience with him completely. Though we come from different political sides of the aisle, politics was never an issue between us. We both represented the same people--the hard-working folks in the city of Dunkirk--and we each had a responsibility to deliver for them. Now as his wife Pat and their large extended family will welcome Dick back to them after loaning him, his time and attention to the city and its residents for the past ten years, we wish them good luck as Dick leaves active civic life for a much deserved respite. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me a few moments to commemorate the service of one of the most honorable public servants that I have had the good fortune to know. I am thankful all the more, however, to call Dick Frey my friend, and to wish him Godspeed in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, today the United States and Canadian Governments will announce a Beyond the Border agreement to ease border trade and travel in this era of heightened security. I support this goal because in western New York our future depends on integrating our economy with the booming economy of southern Ontario by expanding the Bridge Peace that connects our two communities. The Peace Bridge is the busiest passenger crossing at the northern border. Passengers using the bridge spend $133 million in western New York annually in support of our retailers, sports franchises, airports, educational and cultural institutions. In western New York, Peace Bridge trade impacts $9.1 billion in business sales, supporting 60,000 local jobs and generating $2.6 billion in household income and $233 million in local tax revenue. All of this economic activity depends on a Peace Bridge that is free of congestion, one that is safe, reliable, and predictable. I applaud the efforts of this agreement and call on a renewed Federal focus on the northern border, generally, and the Peace Bridge, specifically.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to have the House pause in its deliberations this morning to honor New York State Supreme Court Justice Frank A. Sedita, Jr., whose three decade judicial career will end this year. The Judge, best known to friends and family as ``Chickie,'' is among the most lovable and well-respected legal figures in the Western New York community. A lifelong Buffalonian, Judge Sedita is the scion of one of the most famous and well-respected 20th century Buffalo political families. While the Judge's father was one of Buffalo's most well-liked 20th century political figures and someone looked back upon nostalgically as one of Buffalo's most favorite mayors; Judge Sedita's career as an attorney and a jurist has been tremendously substantial, as have been the Judge's contributions as a public servant to the hometown region he loves so much. Born and raised in Buffalo, Judge Sedita was graduated summa cum laude from the Canisius College of Buffalo, and in 1960 earned his J.D. at the University at Buffalo Law School. During extensive legal practice in the office of the City of Buffalo's Corporation Counsel, Judge Sedita developed substantial expertise in the area of education law, serving for many years as the counsel to the city's Board of Education. Judge Sedita's career on the bench began in the mid-1970s, upon his election as an Associate Judge of the Buffalo City Court. Following successful service as a Judge of the Erie County Family Court, he was elected as Chief Judge of the Buffalo City Court, administering the city's court system within the very building named for his late father. During this period, Judge Sedita assumed responsibility for the city's Housing Court, raising that court's profile and restoring its work to its rightful level of prominence. His work in that court was probably among the most impactful judicial work performed in Western New York during that period, and resulted in Judge Sedita's selection as a Buffalo News ``Citizen of the Year.'' For the better part of the past two decades, Judge Sedita has served with tremendous distinction as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, continuing to bring honor to not only his own career but also to his storied family name. Notwithstanding his retirement, all residents in Erie County are fortunate that the Sedita family's tradition of effective public service will continue--hopefully for many years to come. In 2012, the judge's son--Frank A. Sedita III, will complete his first term as Erie County's District Attorney. Frank Sedita III has proven a tenacious and effective prosecutor throughout his legal career, and he too, like his father the judge, continues to be a credit to his family, and to the community that he serves with such effectiveness. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask that the whole House join with those of us in Western New York who wish good luck and Godspeed to New York State Supreme Court Justice Frank A. Sedita, Jr., upon the occasion of his retirement from the bench.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the death and celebrate the life of Sheridan Fire Chief Jeffrey D. Roberts. Chief Roberts had served as an officer in the 45-member volunteer fire department for the past six years, and two years ago was elected chief. In addition to his fire service, Chief Roberts served Chautauqua County taxpayers as a member of the Chautauqua County Department of Public Works. A devoted husband and father, Chief Roberts leaves behind his wife Katie and children, Alexis and Berkley. A tremendously well-liked and well-respected leader in our volunteer fire corps in Western New York, Chief Roberts' untimely passing is indeed a tragedy, and the entire Western New York community joins with Katie, Alexis and Berkley in mourning the Chief's death. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness, but also with pride that I ask you, and all of the members of the House, to join with me in celebrating the life of Chief Jeffrey Roberts, and to join with his family in remembering him as a dedicated and fearless public servant, and a proud member of our Western New York community.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. In February 2009, tragedy struck western New York when Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed outside of Buffalo. The National Transportation Safety Board found that one of the principal causes of the crash was pilot fatigue, so Congress passed landmark aviation legislation to reform the system. One of the key provisions required that the Federal Aviation Administration update flight and duty time rules and set minimum rest requirements for airline pilots by August 1, 2011. Congressional intent was clear. That should have been enough time. After all, the National Transportation Safety Board had urged that pilot fatigue rules be updated for the past 20 years. Getting it right is also about getting it done. Yet here we are today, 16 months after Congress asked the Federal Aviation Administration to issue these reforms and 4 months past the deadline we gave them, and still no pilot fatigue rule. That is unacceptable to me, that is unacceptable to my colleagues from western New York, and it is unacceptable to the flying public. I urge the Federal Aviation Administration to complete the pilot fatigue rule immediately.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to legislation that will hinder the rights of American workers. There are several junctures in the union certification process in which an election can be delayed through unnecessary litigation. In June the National Labor Relations Board announced reforms to reduce litigation and streamline the process so that elections are held in a fair and timely manner. The legislation before us will block those reforms and introduce even more opportunity to delay elections indefinitely. I don't believe most employers try to delay elections. In fact, I often cite our history of cooperative labor relations as one of western New York's strengths. But the record shows that some will use every loophole to prevent workers from voting on whether to bargain collectively. The National Labor Relations Board rules will close those loopholes and prevent elections from proceeding. We should allow these reforms to stand and focus instead on legislation to create jobs and get our economy moving in the right direction.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, we are approaching the deadline for the supercommittee to propose a debt reduction plan. Most economists are in agreement on what we need to do: in the long term, reduce the debt by at least $4 trillion over 10 years through a mix of added revenue and reduced spending. And in the short term, make immediate investments to create jobs and to reduce unemployment. I encourage the supercommittee not to ignore the second of those priorities because now is the perfect time to create jobs by making large-scale investments in American infrastructure. Since World War II, every economic contraction was followed by a period of economic expansion; but although economists tell us the recession has ended, we have had no economic expansion. Unemployment remains at 9 percent, and economic growth is projected to be moderate at best. The reason our economy is taking so long to recover is because this recession was more severe than any since the Great Depression, something that seemingly few in government, finance, or academia realized at the time. Because of the historic severity of this recession, American households, local and State governments--even European governments-- find themselves in debt like never before. Consequently, consumer demand is and will be depressed while households and governments reduce spending. And when demand falls, businesses don't hire. It is that simple. Some believe this period of decreased demand will last 5 to 7 years. A policy of fiscal austerity will make matters only worse. We only have to look back at the United States in 1937, Japan in the 1990s, and Europe last year and this year to understand that when consumers are not spending, the worst thing a government can do is stop spending itself. The New America Foundation report makes the case that investing $1.2 trillion over the next 5 years in rebuilding our infrastructure will create 22 million jobs--22 million jobs over a 5-year period. That is more than the 22 million jobs that were created under President Clinton. And the job creation of the 1990s raised so much revenue that our Federal budget reached record surplus. Times were so good that we were debating, at that time, the implications of repaying the entirety of the Nation's debt. The lesson is that the greatest debt-and-deficit reduction tool is job creation. That is why the supercommittee must include significant job creation components in its recommendations. Let me add, Mr. Speaker, that our infrastructure is sorely in need of massive investment. Our roads, bridges, airports, energy grid, and water infrastructure are all in horrible condition. The World Economic Forum ranks America 23rd in infrastructure quality. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives our infrastructure a D grade. Transportation for America reports that there are 63,000 structurally deficient bridges in our country--including 99 in my community in western New York. The Chamber of Commerce has said that unless we repair our infrastructure, we will suffer $336 billion in lost growth over the next 5 years. To my colleagues who believe that we can't afford to make investments at this time, I say we can't afford not to. Delaying the repair or replacement of infrastructure by just 2 years can increase the cost of doing those repairs by a factor of five. I also note that we just spent $62 billion nation-building in Iraq and $73 billion nation-building in Afghanistan. There was no objection then to borrowing to finance that nation-building, nor should there be objection now when we're proposing to do nation-building right here at home. And given the current economic conditions, financing American infrastructure projects will never be cheaper. Interest rates are extremely low, the cost of labor and materials are low due to lack of demand, and the equipment is cheap because it is idle. Repairing and expanding our infrastructure is work that we need to do to stay globally competitive, and it will never be cheaper to do it than it is today. Quite simply, there is much work to be done, and a lot of Americans need to do work. Now is the best time to do that. Mr. Speaker, a large scale, $1.2 trillion, 5-year investment in infrastructure would create 27 million American jobs that cannot be shipped overseas. It will reduce unemployment, it will reduce the deficit and, in the end, we will have an infrastructure our country needs and our country deserves.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, on November 28 a new Federal courthouse will open in western New York. Located on historic Niagara Square in Buffalo's central business district, the 10-story structure will be home to the United States Court for the Western District of New York. The striking profile of the courthouse is a reminder that Buffalo's future is connected to its unique architectural heritage. As we draw inspiration for our future from this impressive building, I can think of no name more fitting to grace it than one from our past, that of western New York's only Supreme Court Justice, Robert H. Jackson. Jackson was born and raised near Jamestown, New York. He spent the first 42 years of his life in western New York and for a time lived on Johnson Park, which is in the shadow of the new courthouse, and he practiced law at the historic Ellicott Square Building in downtown Buffalo. He was a prominent local attorney, and in 1934, President Roosevelt called him to public service in Washington. After stints as Assistant Attorney General for Tax and Antitrust, Jackson was appointed U.S. Solicitor General. He personally argued more than 30 cases before the Supreme Court on which he would later sit. Louis Brandeis, who was a Supreme Court Justice at the time, said of Jackson that he was so good he ``should be Solicitor General for life.'' But Jackson was soon tapped to head the Justice Department as United States Attorney General. He was instrumental in helping President Roosevelt formulate America's national security policies as the United States headed toward inevitable involvement in World War II. In 1941 Roosevelt appointed Jackson to the United States Supreme Court. He remains to this day the only Supreme Court Justice from western New York. He served on the Court for 13 terms and took part in several important decisions, none bigger than the landmark Brown v. Board of Education, which prohibited segregation. Justice Jackson was known on the Court for personally authoring thoughtful and compelling opinions. The leading constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe called Jackson ``the most piercingly eloquent writer ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court.'' In 1945 President Truman asked Jackson to take a leave from the Court to serve as the United States Chief Prosecutor at the International Military Tribunal, the Nuremberg Trials. Jackson was the chief prosecutor of the Nazi war criminals and was responsible for achieving consensus among the allies on the design and implementation of the trials. Some believe that the year Jackson spent away from the Court cost him a chance of being elevated to Chief Justice, but Jackson argued that Nuremberg was the most important work of his life. True to his western New York roots, immediately upon returning from Europe, Jackson took a train to Buffalo to address the University of Buffalo's centennial. He spoke eloquently of the subjects of war, international law, and the need for countries to work together for peace. Robert Jackson died in 1954 and is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Frewsburg, New York, not far from his childhood home. The Federal Judges and the United States Attorney of the Western District of New York have endorsed the naming of the courthouse in Jackson's honor. Chief Judge William Skretny called him ``the most distinguished jurist and most acclaimed legal mind to come out of the Western District.'' And Senior Judge John Curtin said of Jackson, ``I think we should pick someone from the court family in western New York. I can't think of a better choice.'' Mr. Speaker, Justice Jackson's story is uniquely American and it's uniquely western New York. I will soon introduce legislation to name our new courthouse for Robert H. Jackson, and I invite my colleagues to join to support this effort.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Chair, I was in my district today to attend to matters concerning the opening of a new federal courthouse in Buffalo. This is one of the largest federal projects completed in western New York in recent years, supporting hundreds of jobs. This striking structure, standing at the center of Buffalo's business district, is symbolic of Buffalo's rising opportunities in connection to our unique architecture and history. My presence in Buffalo caused me to miss several votes in the House today. As a strong supporter of both maritime commerce and the environmental protection of the Great Lakes, I would like to submit for the Record how I would have voted on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act and other matters. Had I been present I would have voted: Nay on rollcall 829. Nay on rollcall 830. Yea on rollcall 831. Yea on rollcall 832. Yea on rollcall 833. Yea on rollcall 834. Yea on rollcall 835. Yea on rollcall 836.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, this week the partisan chairs of the previous deficit reduction commissions admonished the supercommittee to ``go big'' with a package that includes a balance of cuts and revenues. Unfortunately, I think they will ``go small,'' and that would be a tragic lost opportunity. It would also be a lost opportunity if the supercommittee's legislation does not include job-creating measures, because the best way to reduce deficits is to create jobs. Just ten years ago, the debate in this country was over the implications of repaying our debt in its entirety. We had that debate because, under President Clinton, 22 million jobs were created and record deficits were turned into record surpluses. Mr. Speaker, the supercommittee should be bold and include a major investment in infrastructure. With interest rates at historic lows, it will never be cheaper to finance the massive backlog of improvements that we need to make in order to stay competitive. Optimistically, economic growth over the next 2 years is not expected to be enough to sustain the current employment levels. That means unemployment will increase unless we act to create jobs. I urge the supercommittee to do the right thing--go big. The American people need to work, and much work needs to be done.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share the story of Mark Andol, a member of my western New York community. Mark owns a welding and fabricating company in my district. Like many American manufacturers, it lost sales to China in recent years and was forced to cut its 70- person workforce in half. Mark was frustrated and decided to do something about it. He opened a general store that sells only products manufactured entirely in America. When it opened last year, the store offered 50 products. Since then sales have doubled, and it now sells over 3,500 products that are 100 percent American-made, right down to the packaging. I visited Mark's store earlier this week and was highly impressed. I was happy to invite him to the Make It in America working meeting hosted by the White House and our Democratic whip, Mr. Hoyer, tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, Mark's experience demonstrates why we need to strengthen our trade laws and pass the China currency reform bill. In the meantime, I would like to salute Mark Andol for his commitment to the American worker.