[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1670]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         AUTOMATED COLLECTION OF USER FEES AT THE PEACE BRIDGE

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the budget that President Obama sent to 
Congress yesterday contained a number of important proposals: more 
cancer research funding, more treatment for prescription painkiller and 
heroin addiction, and making permanent the solar investment tax credit 
and the new market tax credit.
  While these initiatives generated headlines, one small and simple 
provision could have a significant impact on the economy of western New 
York.
  Beginning this year, at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, Customs and 
Border Protection will automate the collection of user fees for 
commercial vehicles. Currently fees are collected manually, which 
increases congestion and deters Canadians from traveling to western New 
York.
  I called for the implementation of this policy last year and am happy 
to see the Department of Homeland Security moved so quickly on it. By 
automating fee collection, hiring more Customs and Border Protection 
officers, this budget will benefit the western New York economy that is 
dependent on commerce via the Peace Bridge.

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