Homeland Security & Public Safety
With a district bordering Canada, Brian is a recognized leader on matters related to the US-Canadian relationship. In his roles as Co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus, Co-chair of Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group, and a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, Brian seeks out opportunities to build our binational relationship, fighting for adequate staffing and systems to allow for the efficient flow of goods and people across the border.
Brian works to build safer neighborhoods through his support of the federal fire grant program, the Justice in Policing Act and common sense legislation to reduce gun violence including universal background checks.
More on Homeland Security & Public Safety
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) responded to published reports indicating plans are underway to accommodate NHL teams by extending exemptions for travel between the United States and Canada.
Higgins said, “If exemptions can be made to bring hockey teams together, the same can be done to bring families together.”
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), who serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, spoke with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to discuss the existing order closing the U.S. – Canada border to non-essential travel. In the call, Congressman Higgins made an urgent appeal to expand the definition of essential traveler to allow for families to reunite.
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) and City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino are calling for expansion of the Amtrak route between Buffalo, Niagara Falls, New York and Toronto, Ontario to be a priority as the federal government plans to make investments in rail. The American Jobs Plan, the infrastructure package announced by President Biden on March 31, proposes an $80 billion investment to expand and improve Amtrak service.
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) encouraged local volunteer and combination fire departments to apply for the second round of federal fire grants made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Higgins said, “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is designed to support community readiness in response to emergencies. The impact of the coronavirus outbreak puts a new strain on our first responders. This emergency funding provides necessary resources to support protective equipment and supplies.”
Yesterday afternoon Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) spoke directly with National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Robert Sumwalt about concerns related to the federal investigation into the recent airplane crash in Western New York.
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) joined members of the Vigilant Fire Department to kick-off Fire Prevention Week with the announcement of a federal fire grant totaling $176,250 for the department in West Seneca.
Congressmembers Brian Higgins (NY-26) and Chris Jacobs (NY-27) are calling on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to send investigators to the scene of fatal airplane crash in Genesee County. The Western New York leaders made the request in a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator and NTSB Chairman.
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced a federal grant totaling $929,414 has been awarded to New York State for pandemic preparedness projects to help increase the planned pandemic response in upstate New York, including Erie and Niagara Counties.
Higgins said, “The COVID pandemic hit many American communities hard and left local governments struggling to recover. We have to be better prepared. These federal grants will take the lessons learned from the current pandemic and apply them to build a better, more robust and efficient pandemic response.”
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), who serves as Co-Chair of the Northern Border Caucus, released the following statement in response to today’s announcement that the Canadian government is extending travel restrictions between the United States and Canada through September 21, 2020:
“On full display for the entire world to see is the Trump Administration’s abject failure to lead. This lack of leadership is keeping families apart, straining the relationship with our closest allies, and contributing to unnecessary deaths.
"From day one, this Administration’s policy toward Dreamers, who have only ever known life in this country, has been cruel and heartless. So today’s decision by the Supreme Court to strike down President Trump’s unjustified action to overturn the Deferral Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is good news. The young people in the DACA program who have lived in fear that the President’s proposed action would force them further into the shadows can now breathe a sigh of relief.