HIGGINS, BRIAN (a Representative from New York)
Amendments
Dept. of Defense: making appropriations (H.R. 5856), H4959 [18JY]
Dept. of Homeland Security: making appropriations (H.R. 5855), H3557 [6JN]
Bills and resolutions cosponsored
Agriculture: provide for a uniform national standard for the housing and treatment of egg-laying hens (see H.R. 3798), H6062 [14SE]
Aviation: require individuals seeking training in the operation of certain aircraft be checked against the terrorist watchlist (see H.R. 6159), H6152 [19SE]
Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull Post Office Building, Mastic Beach, NY: designate (see H.R. 3912), H567 [7FE]
Buffalo, NY: anniversary of Continental Connection commuter plane crash (see H. Res. 543), H640 [8FE]
Business and industry: list employers that relocate call centers overseas, make such companies ineligible for Federal grants and loans, and require call center employees to disclose their physical location (see H.R. 3596), H28 [17JA]
Catholic Schools Week: recognize goals and honor contributions of Catholic schools (see H. Res. 523), H158 [24JA]
Corporal Kyle Schneider Post Office Building, Baldwinsville, NY: designate (see H.R. 5837), H3161 [18MY]
Corps of Engineers: compel completion of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study within a certain time period and focus attention on permanent prevention of aquatic nuisance species (see H.R. 4406), H2289 [27AP]
Credit: require lender or servicer of a home mortgage, upon a request by the homeowner for a short sale, to make a prompt decision whether to allow the sale (see H.R. 1498), H2813 [16MY]
Dept. of Agriculture: establish a Great Lakes basin initiative for agricultural nonpoint source pollution prevention (see H.R. 4328), H1847 [16AP]
——— extend and improve the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program (see H.R. 4085), H944 [17FE]
Dept. of Defense: ensure detainees on U.S. soil have access to due process, the court system, and will not be detained indefinitely by the military (see H.R. 4192), H1304 [8MR]
——— provide benefits under the Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence program for days of non-participation due to Government error (see H.R. 3863), H2715 [15MY]
Dept. of Education: extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans (see H.R. 3826), H1017 [28FE] (see H.R. 4816), H2212 [26AP]
——— revise rule requiring for-profit colleges from receiving a certain percentage of revenue from non-Federal sources to count military and veterans’ education benefits under such rule (see H.R. 4055), H2647 [10MY]
Dept. of HHS: increase number of permanent faculty in palliative care at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, nursing schools, and other programs, and promote education in palliative care and hospice (see H.R. 6155), H6429 [16NO]
——— provide for the participation of physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (see H.R. 1426), H694 [9FE]
Dept. of Homeland Security: modify requirements for the visa waiver program (see H.R. 3855), H218 [31JA]
Dept. of Justice: establish uniform standards for the exchange of controlled substance and prescription information to prevent diversion, fraud, and abuse of such substances and drugs (see H.R. 4292), H2447 [8MY]
——— provide for evidence-based and promising practices related to juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention (see H.R. 2721), H6234 [20SE]
Dept. of Labor: provide grants to the National Urban League for an Urban Jobs Program (see H.R. 683), H1915 [17AP]
Dept. of the Interior: allow acceptance of bids on new oil and gas leases of Federal lands only from bidders certifying that all petroleum products produced from such leases will be offered for sale only in the U.S. (see H.R. 4325), H1916 [17AP]
Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify presumptions relating to exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam (see H.R. 3612), H2715 [15MY]
——— develop a comprehensive policy to improve outreach and transparency to veterans and Armed Forces members through provision of information on institutions of higher learning (see H.R. 4057), H2447 [8MY]
——— establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at Fort McClellan, AL (see H.R. 2052), H7264 [18DE]
——— establish an honorary Excellence in Veterans Education Award (see H.R. 4052), H2813 [16MY]
Diseases: establish a comprehensive interagency response to reduce lung cancer mortality in a timely manner (see H.R. 1394), H3807 [19JN]
——— support goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s disease by a certain date and other goals of the National Plan To Address Alzheimer’s Disease draft (see H. Con. Res. 120), H2716 [15MY]
Europe: designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions, provide information about Hezbollah to European allies, and support Bulgaria in investigating terrorist attack in Burgas (see H. Res. 834), H7264 [18DE]
Federal employees: provide certain benefits to domestic partners (see H.R. 3485), H4065 [26JN]
Foreign aid: ensure that a percentage of food aid provided in the form of certain agricultural commodities or their products must be transported on U.S. commercial vessels (see H.R. 6170), H5526 [31JY]
Foreign trade: apply countervailing duties to nonmarket economy countries (see H.R. 4105), H1099 [29FE]
Girl Scouts: anniversary (see H. Res. 460), H1363 [13MR]
Health: make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly (see H.R. 2104), H1978 [18AP]
Hurricanes: express condolences to, commend resiliency and courage of, and provide necessary resources for relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts of victims of Hurricane Sandy (see H. Res. 820), H6505 [28NO]
Iran: condemn continued persecution, imprisonment, and sentencing of Youcef Nadarkhani on the charge of apostasy (see H. Res. 556), H1101 [29FE]
——— express importance of preventing acquisition of nuclear weapons capability and continue economic and diplomatic pressure to secure nonproliferation agreement (see H. Res. 568), H1808 [29MR]
——— provide for a comprehensive strategy to counter growing presence and hostile activity in the Western Hemisphere (see H.R. 3783), H77 [18JA]
Israel: authorize further assistance to Israel for the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system (see H.R. 4229), H1742 [28MR]
——— reaffirm strategic relationship with the U.S., direct the President to submit reports on U.S. actions to enhance this relationship, and assist in the defense of Israel (see H.R. 4133), H1274 [7MR]
LIHEAP: establish minimum level of assistance for certain States (see H.R. 6533), H6275 [21SE]
March of Dimes Foundation: mint coins in recognition and celebration (see H.R. 3187), H2813 [16MY]
Medicare: extend Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program and increase payments under the Medicare low-volume hospital program (see H.R. 5943), H4065 [26JN]
——— provide beneficiaries greater choice with regard to accessing hearing health services and benefits (see H.R. 2140), H3707 [15JN]
——— provide coverage of comprehensive Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia diagnosis and services to improve care and outcomes by increasing detection, diagnosis, care, and planning (see H.R. 1386), H2211 [26AP]
——— provide for payment for services of qualified radiologist assistants (see H.R. 3032), H727 [14FE]
——— waive coinsurance for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of whether therapeutic intervention is required during the screening (see H.R. 4120), H2212 [26AP]
Middle East: limit U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority (see H.R. 5303), H2448 [8MY]
Minimum wage: provide for increases consistent with inflation (see H.R. 6211), H5326 [26JY]
National Cancer Act: anniversary (see H. Res. 531), H219 [31JA]
National Cancer Prevention Day: designate (see H. Res. 538), H475 [3FE]
National Nurses Week: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 644), H2320 [7MY]
National Women’s Rights History Project Act: reauthorize appropriations (see H.R. 6150), H5526 [31JY]
Nicklaus, Jack: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 4040), H1274 [7MR]
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative: take action to obtain Russia’s full compliance with commitments under the protocol on their accession to the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (see H.R. 6149), H5860 [11SE]
Olympic Games: disapprove that U.S. uniforms were made overseas, support U.S. manufacturing, and urge the U.S. Olympic Committee to use U.S. designers and manufacturers for uniforms in the future (see H. Res. 729), H5079 [19JY]
Political campaigns: provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and other entities (see H.R. 4010), H1306 [8MR]
Ports: recognize importance to the U.S. economy and national security, strengthen seaport-related infrastructure, and express gratitude to port employees (see H. Res. 592), H2212 [26AP]
Postal Service: recalculate and restore retirement annuities, eliminate requirement to pre-fund health benefits fund, restrict facility closures, and create incentives to maintain levels of service (see H.R. 3591), H2447 [8MY]
Pro Football Hall of Fame: mint coins in recognition and celebration (see H.R. 4104), H3733 [18JN]
Public works: ensure that transportation and infrastructure projects using Federal financial assistance are constructed with steel, iron, and manufactured goods produced in the U.S. (see H.R. 3533), H115 [23JA]
Religion: honor historical contributions of Catholic sisters (see H. Res. 689), H3733 [18JN]
Roads and highways: extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (see H.R. 14), H1496 [21MR]
Russia: impose sanctions on persons responsible for detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky, the conspiracy to defraud Russia of taxes on corporate profits, and other human rights violations (see H.R. 4405), H5712 [2AU]
Schneier, Arthur: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3252), H3105 [17MY]
Social Security: treat permanent partnerships between individuals of the same gender as marriage for purposes of determining entitlement to Federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits (see H.R. 4609), H2066 [24AP]
Specialist Christopher Scott Post Office Building, Tyrone, NY: designate (see H.R. 6681), H7264 [18DE]
St. Bonaventure University: tribute to men’s and women’s basketball teams (see H. Res. 588), H1390 [19MR]
Taxation: allow employers a credit against income tax as an incentive to partner with educational institutions to provide skills training for students (see H.R. 4249), H1847 [16AP]
——— encourage domestic insourcing and discourage foreign outsourcing (see H.R. 5542), H3808 [19JN]
——— expand rehabilitation credit (see H.R. 2479), H1367 [16MR]
——— express that the current property tax deduction on private residences should not be further restricted (see H. Res. 557), H2329 [7MY]
——— extend allowance for bonus depreciation for certain business assets (see H.R. 4196), H1978 [18AP]
——— make permanent and expand the temporary minimum credit rate for the low-income housing tax credit program (see H.R. 3661), H2813 [16MY]
——— provide a tax incentive for installation and maintenance of mechanical insulation property (see H.R. 2866), H1642 [27MR]
——— provide tax relief for damages relative to Hurricane Sandy (see H.R. 6683), H7359 [19DE]
——— reduce tax on beer (see H.R. 1675), H1642 [27MR]
——— restrict benefits of Reverse Morris Trust transactions by removing incentives to sell off assets tax free by creating spinoff companies that assume large amounts of debt (see H.R. 2604), H79 [18JA]
Transportation Security Administration: allow transportation worker identification credentials (TWIC) applicants to remotely apply for issuance, renewal, or activation (see H.R. 3173), H2813 [16MY]
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: lead a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries (see H.R. 6385), H6469 [27NO]
Unemployment: prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of an individual’s status or history of unemployment (see H.R. 2501), H5526 [31JY]
Veterans: authorize military departments to provide an exception to standards for awarding the Purple Heart for World War II veterans whose service records are incomplete due to damage (see H.R. 6095), H5712 [2AU]
——— issue a Victory for Veterans stamp (see H.R. 6121), H4863 [12JY]
——— require States to ensure that training received by a veteran while on active duty is taken into consideration in granting certain State certifications or licenses (see H.R. 4115), H1392 [19MR]
Voting: modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for disabled individuals, and protect the right to vote (see H.R. 5799), H3102 [17MY]
Wallenberg, Raoul: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3001), H1017 [28FE]
War of 1812: award a Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Tuscarora Nation who fought to protect residents of Lewiston, NY, from British invasion (see H.R. 6516), H6275 [21SE]
——— recognize anniversary and the ensuing 200 years of peace and cooperation between the U.S. and Canada (see H. Res. 685), H3699 [8JN]
Water: require use of American iron, steel, and manufactured goods in the construction, alteration, and repair of public water systems and treatment works (see H.R. 1684), H2211 [26AP]
Wildlife: establish improved regulatory process for injurious wildlife to prevent introduction and establishment in the U.S. of nonnative wildlife and wild animal pathogens and parasites (see H.R. 5864), H3808 [19JN]
Women: ensure reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition (see H.R. 5647), H2443 [8MY]
——— improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases in women (see H.R. 3526), H2329 [7MY]
World War II: award Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Civil Air Patrol (see H.R. 719), H2134 [25AP]
Year of the Girl: designate (see H. Res. 460), H1363 [13MR]
Year of the Korean War Veteran: designate (see H. Res. 618), H2135 [25AP]
Yousafzai, Malala: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 6588), H6369 [14NO]
Bills and resolutions introduced
Courts: protect the right of a claimant in a civil action before a Federal court to retain a structured settlement broker to negotiate the terms of payment of an award (see H.R. 4022), H725 [14FE]
Dept. of Transportation: establish a transformational infrastructure competitive grant program (see H.R. 4352), H1845 [16AP]
SSA: require the President to transmit the annual budget without revisions to Congress (see H.R. 4082), H943 [17FE]
Tariff: bags for toys (see H.R. 4455), H2030 [19AP]
——— infant products (see H.R. 4456), H2030 [19AP]
Constitutional authority statements
Courts: protect the right of a claimant in a civil action before a Federal court to retain a structured settlement broker to negotiate the terms of payment of an award (H.R. 4022), H726 [14FE]
Dept. of Transportation: establish a transformational infrastructure competitive grant program (H.R. 4352), H1845 [16AP]
SSA: require the President to transmit the annual budget without revisions to Congress (H.R. 4082), H944 [17FE]
Tariff: bags for toys (H.R. 4455), H2032 [19AP]
——— infant products (H.R. 4456), H2032 [19AP]
Eulogies
Schmid, Jacquelyn A.: by, E1429• [3AU]
Obituaries
Schmid, Jacquelyn A.: Buffalo (NY) News, E1429• [3AU]
——— Cheektowaga (NY) Am-Pol Eagle, E1430• [3AU]
Pledge of Allegiance
House of Representatives, H588 [8FE], H1163 [6MR], H2144 [26AP], H2457 [9MY], H6471 [28NO], H7475 [31DE]
Remarks
Air Force: prohibit relocation and retirement of C–130 aircraft, H7278 [19DE]
Alden, NY: tribute to Alden Farmers Market, E1578• [20SE]
Budget: allocation of funds, H737 [15FE]
——— deficit, H5634 [2AU]
Buffalo, NY: anniversary of Continental Connection commuter plane crash, H520 [7FE]
——— anniversary of First Presbyterian Church, E665• [26AP]
——— implementation of airline safety reforms in wake of Continental Connection commuter plane crash, H4917 [18JY], H5296 [26JY]
——— tribute to economic renaissance, H5024 [19JY]
Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society: anniversary, E757• [10MY]
Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment, and Veterans Employment: tribute to Helmets to Hardhats program to provide veterans with training and employment opportunities in the construction industry, H1643 [28MR]
Colleges and universities: address increasing levels of student loan debt and default rates, H2145 [26AP]
Collins, NY: anniversary of Collins Fire Dept., E51• [23JA]
Corps of Engineers: prevent the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes and their tributaries, H589 [8FE], H5140 [24JY]
Dept. of Defense: making appropriations (H.R. 5856), H4945, H4959 [18JY]
——— military operations in Afghanistan funding, H4945 [18JY]
——— research, development, test, and evaluation funding, H4959 [18JY]
Dept. of Education: extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans (H.R. 3826), H2145 [26AP]
Dept. of Energy: non-defense environmental cleanup funding, H3431 [5JN]
Dept. of Homeland Security: implement commercial pre-inspection pilot program at Peace Bridge to expedite traffic at U.S.-Canada border, H4709 [10JY]
——— making appropriations (H.R. 5855), H3557 [6JN]
Dept. of State: revision of Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement with Canada, H3812 [20JN]
Dept. of Transportation: establish a transformational infrastructure competitive grant program (H.R. 4352), H6163 [20SE]
Diseases: cancer research funding, H229 [1FE]
——— require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to cover oral cancer drugs on terms no less favorable than coverage provided for intravenously administered anticancer medications (H.R. 2746), H4076 [27JN]
Donahoe, Patrick R.: replace as Postmaster General, H3587 [7JN]
Drugs: encourage development of prescription drug monitoring programs to track the dispensing of controlled drugs to patients, H2335 [8MY]
Economy: avert ‘‘fiscal cliff’’ economic crisis through bipartisan agreement on taxes and spending, H6349 [14NO], H6865, H6867, H6868 [18DE], H7476 [31DE], H7518 [1JA]
——— create jobs through infrastructure investment, H6756–H6758 [12DE]
——— provide tax relief for workers and businesses, rebuild and modernize country’s infrastructure, and provide pathways back to work for those looking for jobs (H.R. 12), H6453, H6454, H6456, H6457 [27NO]
——— rebuild and modernize country’s infrastructure, H6865, H6867, H6868 [18DE]
Employment: importance of manufacturing jobs and Make It in America agenda, H6455 [27NO]
Energy and water development: making appropriations (H.R. 5325), H3431 [5JN]
EPA: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding, H7362 [20DE]
FAA: implement reforms to improve aviation safety, H2081 [25AP]
FCC: eliminate blackout rule relative to television broadcast of National Football League games, H43 [18JA], H385 [2FE], H4810 [11JY]
FEMA: Urban Areas Security Initiative funding for Buffalo, NY, area, H5536 [1AU]
——— Urban Areas Security Initiative funding through reductions in Dept. of Homeland Security science and technology research funding, H3557 [6JN]
Government regulations: prohibit agencies from taking any significant regulatory action until the unemployment rate is equal to or less than a certain level (H.R. 4078), H5296 [26JY]
Gulf of Mexico: restore resources, ecosystems, fisheries, habitats, and wetlands of Gulf Coast States, and create jobs and revive economy of communities affected by Deepwater Horizon oil spill (H.R. 4348), conference report, H5634 [2AU]
Helmets to Hardhats (nonprofit organization): tribute, H819 [16FE]
Information technology: importance of electronic medical records and health information technology, H6711 [12DE]
Iran: condemn continued persecution, imprisonment, and sentencing of Youcef Nadarkhani on the charge of apostasy (H. Res. 556), H1088 [29FE]
——— provide for a comprehensive strategy to counter growing presence and hostile activity in the Western Hemisphere (H.R. 3783), H1163 [6MR], H6082 [19SE]
Israel: independence anniversary, E663• [26AP]
Medicare: reform, H1922 [18AP], H6865 [18DE]
National Cancer Institute: funding, H2825 [17MY]
National Cancer Research Month: observance, H2825 [17MY]
National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: observance, H5773 [11SE]
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: expand eligibility period for Lackawanna, NY, Bethlehem Steel workers for Special Exposure Cohort under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, H1399 [20MR], H5209 [25JY]
New York: tribute to passage of law combating prescription drug abuse, H4830 [12JY]
Obama, President: evaluation of economic policies, H5634 [2AU]
Postal Service: amend methodology for calculating the amount of any Postal surplus or supplemental liability under the Civil Service Retirement System (H.R. 1351), H974 [28FE]
——— create a moratorium on closure or consolidation of postal facilities, H2723 [16MY], H3587 [7JN]
——— improve, sustain, and transform (S. 1789), H2457 [9MY]
——— release details of study relative to impact of closure of post offices, H1583 [27MR]
Religion: honor historical contributions of Catholic sisters (H. Res. 689), H4161 [28JN]
Republican Party: national agenda, H4692 [10JY]
Roads and highways: extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs pending enactment of a multiyear reauthorization (H.R. 4348), conference report, H5634 [2AU]
Robert H. Jackson U.S. Courthouse, Buffalo, NY: designate (H.R. 3556), H5104 [23JY]
Roswell Park Cancer Institute: cancer vaccine research funding, H129 [24JA], H6472 [28NO]
Taiwan: observance of National Day, E1580• [20SE]
Taxation: extend Bush administration tax cuts, provide alternative minimum tax relief, and extend increased expensing limitations (H.R. 8), Senate amendments, H7518 [1JA]
Transportation: infrastructure funding, H737 [15FE], H6514 [29NO]
United Parcel Service of America, Inc.: tribute to hiring of reservists and returning veterans, E1726• [26OC]
Veterans’ Job Corps: establish to provide gainful employment to unemployed veterans and widows of veterans through performance of useful public works, H5870 [12SE]
Votes: position on missed, H6024• [14SE]
War: recognize impact of financial costs on U.S. economy and refocus efforts on addressing domestic priorities, H1643 [28MR]
Western New York Safety Conference, Inc.: tribute, E320• [6MR]
Tributes
Benderson, Nathan, E552• [17AP]
Burns, Mike, E1726• [26OC]
Chur, Robert M., E971• [5JN]
Kahn, Dennis, E185• [14FE]
Kunick, Justin, E1965• [19DE]
Loughran, James V., E789• [15MY]
McLennan, Bob, E787• [15MY]
Pfohl, Tim, E1726• [26OC]
Pienta, William J., E390• [20MR]
Piorowski, Henry, E193• [15FE]
Restaino, Antonio S., Jr., E972• [5JN]
Schmid, Jacquelyn A., E1428• [3AU]
Simon, Mitchell, E786• [15MY]
Veranjes, Dan, E1726• [26OC]