Brian Higgins

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor James V. Loughran, a distinguished resident of the town of Amherst, Erie County, New York, upon the occasion of his retirement. Coming from a large family with a longtime dedication to public service, Jim Loughran served with honor and distinction as a Rifleman with the United States Marine Corps. After multiple combat tours in Vietnam between 1967 and 1969, Jim made the decision to dedicate his professional career to his country with a career in the military. Jim spent his military career principally in areas of administrative management and recruitment. Time and again Jim was called upon to manage and administer the safe deployment of Marines, often doing so for the largest active and reserve units within the Corps. On multiple occasions, Jim received commendations from his commanders who knew all too well the type of dedication and commitment that Jim showed to his country and to his duties. Jim maintains a close relationship with former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace, under whom Jim served when both were stationed in Buffalo. On three different occasions, Jim was fortunate to serve under Gen. Pace's command, and their relationship speaks volumes about the type of soldier Jim was, and the impact that Jim's leadership had on his commanding officers. Jim's commitment to his brothers and sisters in the military did not end when soldiers removed their uniforms. Jim took a serious interest in what soldiers and military personnel would have to face after their careers ended, and spent several years in hands-on counseling of veterans transitioning from military to civilian life. In the mid-1990s, Jim faced that same transition himself. Our region was fortunate to attract Jim to come back home. And his community was all the better for that decision. After several years of service to one of our region's most highly regarded members of the Erie County Legislature, Jim put his management skills to work as the Administrator for the Town of Amherst Justice Court. The largest such court in New York State, Jim served several town justices in Amherst by administering the operations of the court with flawless quality and impeccable honesty and integrity. Amherst Town Justice Mark Farrell has said that, ``Jim transformed Amherst Town Court into the most efficient justice court in New York State, leading in the management of the largest caseload and managing the largest such staff in the state. No one gets a job done better than Jimmy Loughran.'' Jim was an innovator. Working closely with Judge Farrell, Jim was on the ground floor in the formation of specialized courts, including service to veterans and to those in need of treatment for problem gambling. Jim also worked with town justices to form the Amherst Drug Court and Therapeutic Foundation, where today he serves as President. Jim is involved with dozens of professional and civic associations and has a particular interest with fundraising efforts for the many charities, including the Leukemia Society, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Jim was faced with a health challenge not long ago, and his many friends and family members are delighted to see that he is working through it. On Thursday, May 17, what is sure to be a capacity crowd will fill the Sonoma Grille in the heart of Jim's beloved hometown of Amherst to fete Jim upon the occasion of his retirement. A long time ago, during his Marine service, Jim earned the nickname ``Jimmy Good Guy,'' and that is as appropriate an appellation as has ever been assigned to a person. Jim earned that nickname simply because of his willingness to help someone--anyone--who was in need. No one who has had the good fortune to encounter Jim Loughran has left that engagement without knowing that Jim would do anything he could to help them. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I am asking that all members of the House join with me, and with Jim's own friends and family, to wish Jim Loughran--the one and only ``Jimmy Good Guy''--the very best of good luck and good health in the months and years to come.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and accomplishments of a distinguished member of my community, Bob McLennan. Bob has been a tireless advocate for the Western New York labor community. He has served as a full-time officer for the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch #3 in Buffalo for the past 21 years. For the last 18 years he has served as the President of that organization and has been an important figure in educating the public and Members of Congress on pressing issues facing our community in Buffalo, NY. For the last 18 years Bob has also served as Vice President of the Buffalo AFL CIO labor council leaving his mark as a leader for working families. As one of the leading figures advocating for the National Association of Letter Carriers Bob has been described as being ``front and center leading one of the most effective NALC local branches in the country.'' Bob became a letter carrier in 1980 in Depew, NY and worked 30 years in that capacity until his retirement in 2010. Bob has since continued to advocate for the letter carriers in Buffalo and Washington, D.C. and will retire after a long and distinguished career. Bob is married to his wife Rosemary and has three sons, Ian, Connor, and Corey. He is also a proud grandfather with four grandchildren, Cailyn, Kiley, Ivy and Ginger. My community of Western New York has benefited greatly from the leadership and foresight that Bob McLennan has exhibited through his work. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me a few moments to commemorate the service of one of the hardest working men that I have had the good fortune to know.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 11 year-old Mitchell Simon, a resident of the town of Amherst in Erie County and Western New York. In many ways, Mitch is an entirely ordinary 11 year old boy. He loves playing baseball, riding his bike, and hanging around with his friends, his siblings and cousins. Mitch is an inquisitive young man, always present with a ready smile and a friendly face. But in another area, he is very special indeed. Mitch was born with a rare condition that affected the function of his liver. After surgery at a very young age, Mitch was fortunate to live a relatively normal life. But in December 2011, troubles developed, and Mitch was placed on a waiting list to receive a liver transplant. On Tuesday April 17, the call came, and Mitch and his family, led by parents Jason and Denise, made the trip to Pittsburgh, PA. Overnight, after a grueling surgical procedure, the miracle of life was handed back to Mitch. After surgery, it was said that Mitch was soon sitting up in bed, playing his X-Box, but it's undeniable that the recovery has had its ups and downs. Any 11 year old would be frustrated to be in bed for too long, and we know that Mitch is fighting hard to get back home. On Saturday, June 2, a benefit will be held for the Simon family, to help defray the costs associated with Mitch's illness. The response for the benefit has been overwhelming, with friends, relatives, schoolmates' families and Mitch's baseball and basketball teammates and their families all pitching in for a great cause. I would be remiss if I did not also speak of the tremendous sacrifices made by those who promote and participate in organ and tissue donation. Mitch had the gift of life given back to him with his surgery, but this is not the Simon family's first such experience. Mitch's mom Denise was a kidney donor to her brother in 2002. While an unthinkable tragedy occurs with the death of a child, the Simon family will be forever thankful that another family's tragedy resulted in a new lease on life for Mitch. The miracle of organ donation is never ending, and one hopes that the Simon family's story--both as donors as well as recipients--is an inspiration to others to join the ranks of those willing to ``Donate Life.'' Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that you will join with me and with all of our colleagues to commend the Simon family and offer the best wishes of the House of Representatives to Mitch for a speedy recovery.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to recognize the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society (BECHS) on the occasion of their 150th Anniversary celebration. It is with great enthusiasm that I learned of their recent partnership with the newly restored Hotel Lafayette in Downtown Buffalo and I am inspired by their creative collaboration with significant restoration projects throughout our great city and region. As the premier historical organization in Western New York, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society serves to collect, research, interpret and share the rich history of the Niagara Frontier. Founded in 1862, the organization holds more than 100,000 artifacts, 200,000 photographs, and 20,000 books. On Thursday May 10, 2012, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society will celebrate their 150th Anniversary Gala and will partner with the Hotel Lafayette at a premier event held at the hotel to announce their collaboration and concept of leveraging Western New York history as a brand. Their shared vision will be showcased at the hotel in the form of inspired images, artifacts and ephemera from the museums vast collection. Other creative collaborative efforts include: the use of BECHS designed Pan-American dinnerware for use as dessert plates in the newly named Pan-American Grill and Brewery in the Hotel, curating reproduced images for the hotel suites and corridors, and wall coverings to name a few. As Buffalo's Congressional Representative, and a former teacher of History and Economics at Buffalo State College, it gives me great pride to see such innovative collaborations come to life. This presents a remarkable opportunity to tell the great story of Buffalo, its rise as one of America's fastest growing cities with a bustling and diversified economy, home of the Pan-American Exposition in 1901, and home of many of the great works of architectural and landscape greats of America. This partnership also allows us to tell the story of a city that is making a great comeback, in large part due to the creativity and contributions of its citizens. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the long- standing work and commitment of the staff, board of directors, docents and volunteers at the Buffalo and Erie County's Historical Society on the occasion of their 150th Anniversary Gala at the grand, Hotel Lafayette.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind this House of the far-reaching impact that proposed postal facility closures would have. In my Buffalo community, closing the William Street mail processing facility would affect 700 jobs. Closures would also adversely impact our printing and mailing industry, in addition to nonprofit agencies in local municipalities who rely on regular mail service. Last week, the Senate took the first step in postal reform by passing legislation that would prevent the large-scale closure of postal facilities by requiring the postal service to maintain overnight delivery for at least 3 years. Mr. Speaker, though the Senate bill is not perfect, we must bring it to the floor immediately in order to achieve real reform. This bill is our best path forward.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, in a devastating trend the Centers for Disease Control is calling a public health epidemic, prescription drug death rates in the United States have more than tripled since 1990. In a strange twist of fate, addictive prescription painkillers are killing our children, causing a lifetime of pain for grief-stricken parents. This week, the parents of Michael David Israel join other parents on Capitol Hill to call for changes to prevent these tragedies. The Centers for Disease Control is recommending the implementation of prescription drug monitoring programs, State-run electronic databases used to track the dispensing of controlled drugs to patients. States must move quickly to implement this technology, and the Federal Government should support this commonsense transition to electronic medical records. Avi and Julie Israel and other parents in Washington this week have shown amazing strength despite unthinkable sorrow. Their pain will never be relieved, but we have an obligation to move quickly to ``Save the Michaels of the World.''

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support and recognition of Israeli Independence Day and to honor a country that has made huge strides since its independence in 1948. In my close-knit Buffalo neighborhood, where I was born and raised, I learned that while friends may not agree on everything, they do always have each other's back. Israel is our friend, with good reason, and that is something I hope our country never forgets. Last week, we honored Holocaust Remembrance Day. We join our Israeli friends in mourning those who lost their lives in this attempted genocide of the Jewish people and also promise to move forward ensuring that history will never repeat itself. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Israel on the 64th anniversary of their independence and hope for many more years of mutual friendship between our nations.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, known commonly as ``First Church,'' a staple in my Western New York community, is celebrating its bicentennial this year. First Church of Buffalo is the home of Buffalo's oldest congregation. Founded on February 2, 1812 by missionaries and veterans of the Revolutionary War, the church was the first religious body formed in what was the western frontier of New York State. Often referred to as the ``Mother of All Churches,'' First Presbyterian Church has served as a place of worship for the diverse communities of downtown Buffalo and Niagara County. The current church located at One Symphony Circle since 1889, stands today as one of Buffalo's greatest architectural treasures. The building was designed by E.B. Green after land was donated by Mrs. Truman Avery in 1889. It is characterized by its varying historical influences with its overall Roman exterior, Byzantine interior design and Anglican chapel. For more than two-hundred years, First Presbyterian Church has been a beacon on the West Side of Buffalo and has earned its rightful place in our city's storied history. President Theodore Roosevelt worshipped here when he visited Buffalo, the Visiting Nurses Association started as a mission project here, the Welcome Hall Mission was born at this church, and many outreach programs have found their footing through the churches indelible commitment to Buffalo's community. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday May 20, Western New Yorkers will gather in Symphony Circle to commemorate First Church's bicentennial, joining together with prayer and with fellowship in celebration of this momentous achievement. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and all Western New Yorkers in wishing the leaders, congregants and friends of First Church the very best as they embark upon their second 200 years of service to the people of Buffalo and Western New York.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss an important issue to young America: that's access to affordable higher education. Young Americans today are graduating college with a degree but also with $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000 in student loan debt. Thirty-seven million people have outstanding student loan debt totaling over $1 trillion. Two- thirds of the debt held by Americans under the age of 30 is student loan debt. In 2007, a Democratic Congress cut the interest rate on student loans in half to 3.4 percent, but it is set to expire this summer, and allowing the interest rate to double would constitute a tax hike on students in middle America. In my western New York district alone, this rate increase would affect 62,000 students and their families. I urge my colleagues to take immediate action on this issue because all Americans deserve a fair shot at a good education.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, just over 3 years ago, Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed in my western New York community and that of Congresswoman Cathy Hochul. Sadly, all aboard were killed. In the wake of this tragic crash, the families of the passengers on board Flight 3407 joined together and successfully fought for the inclusion of strong airline safety provisions in the Federal Aviation Administration's reauthorization, which was signed into law in August of 2010. Crewmember screening and qualifications, in addition to pilot certification requirements, were factors that, if properly monitored, could have prevented the crash. We must see to it that the FAA follows through on the implementation of the reforms passed by this Congress. Madam Speaker, keeping our flying public safe should be a top priority. I am committed to continuing the fight on behalf of the memory of those we lost on that day, and I urge my colleagues to join our efforts to achieve safer skies for all Americans.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, on Monday I met in western New York at the Cheektowaga Senior Center, where the discussion centered around the future of Medicare. Prior to the creation of Medicare in 1965, only 50 percent of seniors had health insurance because they were seen by insurance companies as too risky. Today, Medicare is a lifeline to affordable prescription medications and accessible preventative care for seniors across the Nation, including over 100,000 beneficiaries in my district alone. Now some want to change the program to instead give our seniors a voucher that forces them to go out into the market on their own to try to obtain insurance. Our parents and grandparents deserve better. Medicare provides one of the most important guarantees in our society: the guarantee that if you are an older American and you get sick, you will get the care that you need without going broke. This is an American promise worth fighting to protect.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Nathan Benderson, the Chairman of the Benderson Development Company, who recently passed away at the age of 94. Born in Buffalo in 1917, Nathan Benderson was a true visionary who leveraged a bottle-salvaging company he created in the midst of the Great Depression as a teenager into one of the Nation's largest privately held real estate companies. Mr. Benderson personified the American ideal of ingenuity and coupled that with an unwavering commitment to charity. The Benderson Development Company, founded six decades ago in Buffalo, is now among the largest and most diverse developers in the Nation. During that time, Nate Benderson helped transform the real- estate landscape in western New York, constructing many retail plazas and office buildings that still exist today. The company's holdings include shopping centers and malls, office buildings, industrial space, hotels, and raw land. In all, the company owns and manages roughly 500 properties--35 million square feet in 38 States--and employs more than 8,000. Even with all of his achievements and successes as a real estate magnate, Nathan Benderson will be remembered for his indelible commitment to philanthropy. In addition to his work at the development company, Mr. Benderson was a tireless humanitarian who supported an array of causes, including Jewish-related charities, those that helped the poor and the frail elderly, and animal rescue organizations in Florida and New York. Mr. Benderson created a $2 million endowment for programs at Buffalo's Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Sports Complex and was a major benefactor for Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo Zoo, SPCA Serving Erie County, Variety Club, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Food Bank of Western New York and Center for Hospice and Palliative Care. The breadth and depth of Mr. Benderson's generosity are on a scale that is unmatched in western New York. Even after his death, Mr. Benderson's charitable work will continue through the Benderson Family Life Insurance Legacy Initiative, a foundation he created which has in excess of $130 million in assets to support numerous organizations well into the future. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me and with members of the House to express our deepest condolences to the family of the late Nathan Benderson, and join with me in lauding the many good works Mr. Benderson performed during his long and full life.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. I began this morning by talking about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let me now say something about our returning veterans. The unemployment rate for returning veterans under the age of 24 is an unacceptably high rate of 38 percent. A good and grateful Nation owes it to these veterans to ensure that they return home to economic opportunity. The Department of Defense sponsored a program back in 2002 called Helmets to Hardhats to accelerate apprenticeship training and job placement for these returning veterans. Helmets to Hardhats is now a nonprofit organization working with 15 construction trades and over 80,000 American businesses. Mr. Speaker, it is the right time to make a robust investment to repair our outdated and failing infrastructure. There's a lot of work to be done, and a lot of Americans need to be put to work.

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, as our Nation winds down from its military engagements overseas, it's time for America to do some nation-building here at home. A $1.2 trillion investment in rebuilding American roads, bridges, transit, and water systems would create 27 million jobs over 5 years. In the first year alone, the economy would add 5.2 million new jobs and grow by over $400 billion. In the second year, unemployment would be reduced to 5.6 percent. These are among the findings of the New America Foundation report, ``The Way Forward.'' Nearly every expert agrees that America's infrastructure is broken and is in need of immediate repair and replacement. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave America a D grade for infrastructure quality. It is estimated that $2.2 trillion is needed to bring our Nation's infrastructure to good repair. The World Economic Forum ranks the United States 23rd in infrastructure quality. Transportation for America reports that there are 69,000 structurally deficient bridges nationwide, including 2,000 in New York and 99 in western New York alone. In fact, every second of every day, seven cars drive on a bridge that is structurally deficient. Dangerous road conditions were a significant factor in one-third of all traffic fatalities last year, and Americans spent 4.2 billion hours stuck in traffic due to congestion, costing $78 billion, or $710 for every American motorist. The 1987 collapse of the Schoharie Creek Bridge in New York killing 10 people and the 2007 collapse of the Minneapolis bridge killing 13 people are tragic reminders of the human costs associated with deteriorating infrastructure. The economic costs are staggering, too. The United States Chamber of Commerce says that the Nation will lose $336 billion in economic growth in the next 5 years due to inadequate infrastructure. One local example: in January, the New York State Department of Transportation closed a crucial bridge in Springville, New York, due to concerns about its safety, and the weeks-long closure was devastating to local businesses. The time to rebuild America is now. Actually, it's right now. The cost of borrowing money is at a historic low rate. The interest rates on 5-year debt is less than 1 percent. The Treasury Department is considering negative interest rates, meaning that investors will actually pay the Federal Government to buy United States debt. The question is not whether to undertake this work. Public infrastructure is a public responsibility. The question is when to undertake this work. The cost acceleration of delaying road and bridge repair increases by 500 percent after only 2 years. Put simply, a $1 million road repair project today not undertaken will cost $5 million in 2014; a $5 million bridge repair project will cost $25 million in 2014. What's more, a 5-year $1.2 trillion program would create such robust economic activity that it would generate an additional $600 billion in Federal tax revenues, that is to say that our country would be purchasing $1.2 trillion in investment for infrastructure for nearly half off. The United States has spent $76 billion rebuilding the infrastructure of Afghanistan, a population of 30 million people, and $63 billion rebuilding Iraq, a population of 27 million people. Both of these nation-building efforts were deficit financed. And as they took money out of the American economy, they actually undermined American economic growth and employment. And for America, a population of over 300 million, the House is considering a 5-year $260 billion transportation bill, or $52 billion each year for the next 5 years, on average. That's less in any given year than we spent in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Rebuilding our Nation's roads and bridges will support private sector American businesses. Construction trade jobs average approximately $70,000 a year, and these jobs can't be outsourced to China or Mexico. Helmets to Hardhats

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my deep concerns about the postal service's facility closure process. Testimony at a recent Postal Regulatory Commission hearing brought to light details of a study kept secret because it projected billions of dollars in losses, despite facility closures. It also revealed mail volume would take a huge hit due to service standard changes. Yet the postal service has no plans to change its course, further proof that the postal service is operating under an ill-conceived ``decide now, justify later'' strategy. The Buffalo Mail Processing Facility recently developed a training session for postal employees that is now the template for a national model. Surprisingly, this facility is scheduled for closing. It doesn't make any sense. My colleague Gerry Connolly is asking the postal service to release the full results from the study, and I agree. We should not--and cannot--stand by and watch these facilities close without taking all facts into account.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable career of William J. Pienta, the United Steelworkers District 4 Director. Bill began his forty-one year career as a labor leader in my Western New York Community working at the former Allegheny Ludlum steel mill in Dunkirk, NY as an electrician. He became a union activist in 1970 and eventually was elected President of Local 2693. Throughout Bill's career he tirelessly represented the working families in the public and private sectors of organized labor. He joined the USW International staff as an organizer in 1990 and was appointed Director in 2004. As Director of USW District 4, Bill was responsible for all USW activities in New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and the island of Puerto Rico. In addition to his duties as director of USW District 4 Bill held elected positions in multiple labor organizations. He severed as a Vice President of the Buffalo, NY Central Labor Council and as Secretary to the Western New York Area Labor Federation. Additionally he represented the USW as a Vice President of the New York State AFL CIO. He was also a director of the New York State Workforce Development Institute, Inc and was a member of the Univera Advisory Board. Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I am able to honor Bill Pienta on an exemplary career and celebrate his retirement. I thank him for his service to our community and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the Bethlehem Steel plant in Lackawanna, New York, was once the center of western New York's industrial sector, employing thousands of people. Tragically, these workers were unknowingly exposed to residual toxic uranium dust and high levels of radiation, leaving many suffering from cancer and other health problems. Thanks to the efforts of the employees' families, Congress established a program to compensate former Bethlehem Steel employees for their illnesses. However, this process is a difficult one to navigate. I am proud to have worked with the individual families and help countless of them receive the compensation they are owed. But, Mr. Speaker, there's still more to be done. There are families who deserve to be compensated for their suffering. And that's why I, along with New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, are calling on the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to expand the eligibility period. Mr. Speaker, western New Yorkers have long been recognized as some of the most dedicated in this country. I will not rest until those who worked so hard for Bethlehem Steel are compensated for the undeserved suffering.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 76th annual Western New York Safety Conference, which will be held in my Western New York community March 12th-March 15th, 2012. What began as a small group of safety-minded individuals in 1935, has evolved into a conference attended by over 500 delegates each year, and the largest gathering of safety-oriented and interested people on the East Coast. The Western New York Safety Conference is recognized by both employers and employees alike as an outstanding organization. This annual exchange of safety, health and environmental information has contributed greatly to the advancement of safety for the worker, and the general public. I applaud their dedication to the conservation of human life and the safety and health of the individual through the prevention of accidents and occupational diseases. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate those who have led the effort to host this important conference, and am sure that they will continue to service the Western New York community to reduce injuries and illness.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my concern about the presence of Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere. In the Homeland Security Committee, we've heard from experts who testified that Hezbollah, which is a terrorist proxy for Iran, Syria, and Venezuela, has an active membership in 14 North American cities, including Toronto, which is 90 miles from my western New York home. Some dismiss this concern by saying that their activities are limited to fundraising. This is not comforting. Madam Speaker, I have joined with my colleague, Jeff Duncan, to introduce H.R. 3783, the Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act. Our legislation would call for the State Department to investigate Hezbollah's presence in the Western Hemisphere and to create a long- term strategy for keeping our communities and our Nation safe. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to say that this bipartisan legislation was unanimously passed in the subcommittee. As this bill moves through the House, I urge my colleagues to support our legislation to combat this growing threat.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important resolution. I would like to join my colleagues in calling for the immediate release of Youcef Nadarkhani and all of the other individuals who are held or charged on account of their religion. I would also like to send a message to Pastor Youcef's family. Please know that the United States stands behind you, and we will do all we can to see that Youcef is set free. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to comprehend in this day and age that there are nations in which one is not free to practice the religion of their choosing. And in Iran, freedom of religion is not the only right Iranian citizens are denied. The Iranian regime also continues to maintain severe restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Tehran maintains strict control over domestic and international media, aimed at reducing Iranians' contact with the outside world. And individuals and groups risk arrest, torture, imprisonment for political protesting or cooperating with foreign human rights organizations. Women's and minority rights activists and other human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and students are regularly arrested and harassed. Once imprisoned, detainees are ill-treated and tortured. These are just a few examples of the repressive tactics of the Iranian regime. We must continue to speak out against these injustices and call on our friends and allies to do the same. Mr. Speaker, once again, I ask Iran to immediately release Pastor Youcef and end its State-sponsored persecution of religious minorities. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, like many Members of our body, I represent a community with a postal facility that has been slated for closure. In Buffalo, 700 workers stand to lose their jobs if the United States Postal Service goes forward with the closure of the William Street mail processing facility. The good news is there is legislation that could have an immediate impact. My friend and colleague, Representative Steve Lynch, has introduced H.R. 1351, which would recalculate the Postal Service's pension funding, easing the budget strains that necessitate this drastic facility closure proposal. Last week I sent a letter, along with my western New York colleagues, Representative Louise Slaughter and Representative Kathy Hochul, urging Republican leadership to bring this bill to the floor for immediate consideration. Madam Speaker, this legislation is bipartisan and currently has 228 cosponsors, more than half the House. Though broader reforms will be needed, this bill is what will keep the Postal Service afloat in the short term. It's time for Congress to step up, put aside politics, and do what's right for small business, working families, and postal customers nationwide.

Mr. HIGGINS

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, I met with the executive director of the not-for-profit organization Helmets to Hardhats. Since 2003, Helmets to Hardhats has partnered with the Department of Defense, over 82,000 American businesses, and organized labor to help returning veterans prepare for and find work. The current unemployment rate for returning veterans under the age of 24 is an unacceptable 38 percent. Helmets to Hardhats gives veterans the tools they need to start long-term careers in the construction trades. In 2008 alone, the organization placed nearly 1,800 military veterans into construction careers. Mr. Speaker, the last of our combat troops has left Iraq, and we are winding down our military operations in Afghanistan. These veterans have put their lives on the line overseas, and they deserve the assistance of a grateful Nation when they return in order to ensure that they can participate in the economy and in lasting careers. With that in mind, I congratulate Helmets to Hardhats, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.