View source for Brian Higgins

{{Short description|American politician (born 1959)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Brian Higgins
| image               = Brian Higgins official photo.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2005
| state1              = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| term_start1         = January 3, 2005
| term_end1           = February 2, 2024
| predecessor1        = [[Jack Quinn (politician)|Jack Quinn]]
| successor1          = [[Tim Kennedy (politician)|Tim Kennedy]]
| constituency1       = {{ushr|NY|27|C}} (2005–2013)<br>{{ushr|NY|26|C}} (2013–2024)
| state_assembly2     = New York
| district2           = [[New York's 145th State Assembly district|145th]]
| term_start2         = January 1, 1999
| term_end2           = December 31, 2004
| predecessor2        = [[Richard J. Keane]]
| successor2          = [[Mark J. F. Schroeder]]
| office3             = Member of the [[Buffalo Common Council]]<br>from the [[South Buffalo, Buffalo|South]] district
| term_start3         = 1988
| term_end3           = 1993
| predecessor3        = James Keane
| successor3          = Bonnie Kane Lockwood
| birth_name          = Brian Michael Higgins
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1959|10|6}}
| birth_place         = [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = Mary Hannon
| children            = 2
| education           = [[Buffalo State College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])<br>[[Harvard University]] ([[Master of Public Administration|MPA]])
}}
'''Brian Michael Higgins'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usgovernmentmanual.gov/Agency.aspx?EntityId=wBnZD1ihyZI=&ParentEId=+klubNxgV0o=&EType=jY3M4CTKVHY= |title=Directory of the One Hundred and Fifteenth Congress |access-date=2018-12-24 |archive-date=2017-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702141959/https://www.usgovernmentmanual.gov/(S(v2wxvyxkgkto2e0kt5qo3lv3))/Agency.aspx?EntityId=wBnZD1ihyZI=&ParentEId=+klubNxgV0o=&EType=jY3M4CTKVHY= |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Brian Higgins |url=https://www.legistorm.com/search/search.html?textsearch=Brian+Higgins |access-date=2021-01-18}}</ref> (born October 6, 1959) is an American former politician who was the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|NY|26}}, from 2005 until 2024.<ref name="Bio">{{cite web |title=Brian Higgins' biography |url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/23127/brian-higgins#.UzBtk6hdUvY |access-date=2014-09-27 |work=Project Vote Smart}}</ref><ref name="Congresspage">{{cite web |date=2012-12-11 |title=Meet Brian |url=http://higgins.house.gov/about/meet-brian |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref> The district, numbered as the 27th district from 2005 to 2013 and as the 26th from 2013 to 2024, included [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] and [[Niagara Falls, New York|Niagara Falls]], along with some surrounding urban and suburban areas. Higgins is a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]],<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Congresspage"/> and of several congressional committees and caucuses.<ref name="Bio"/> He was born and raised Buffalo, New York, before obtaining a bachelor's and master's from [[Buffalo State College]] and an MPA from [[Harvard University]].<ref name="Bio"/>

==Early life, education, and career==
Brian Higgins was born on October 6, 1959, in [[Buffalo, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Higgins, Brian|url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/H001038|access-date=2021-10-30|website=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]}}</ref> A native of [[South Buffalo, Buffalo|South Buffalo]], Higgins served on the [[Buffalo Common Council]] (city council) from 1988 to 1993, representing the South District.<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="News Bio">{{cite news|work=US Fed News Service|title=Member's bio: Rep. Higgins, Brian, D-N.Y. (27th CD)|id = {{ProQuest|469662323}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Fairbanks, Phil|date=June 18, 1992|work=Buffalo News|title=Many in politics express interest in top county post|id = {{ProQuest|380673255}}}}</ref> Higgins's grandparents were from [[Ireland]].<ref name="News Bio"/>

In 1993, during his final year on the Council, Higgins was rated "Buffalo's Best Lawmaker" in a 1993 ''[[The Buffalo News|Buffalo News]]'' Survey of Western New York business and community leaders.<ref name="News Bio"/><ref name="Survey">{{cite news|author=Heaney, James|date=May 23, 1993 |work=Buffalo News|title=Survey finds three on council stand out as most effective members|id = {{ProQuest|380835417}}}}</ref> Responding to the survey were 158 business, community, and government leaders in Western New York.<ref name="Survey"/> Higgins earned the highest rating of any political leader, with a 3.81 out of a possible score of 5.<ref name="Survey"/> The ''Buffalo News'' wrote of Higgins: "During his 5 1/2 years on the Council, he has earned a reputation as a thoughtful, soft-spoken lawmaker who has paid attention to both district and citywide concerns."<ref name="Survey"/> One community leader said, "Brian is a very bright, responsible public official",<ref name="Survey"/> while a government leader said of Higgins, "The best Councilman in Buffalo. Has great vision."<ref name="Survey"/>

Higgins graduated from [[Buffalo State College]] with a BA in political science in 1984 and an MA in history in 1985.<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Congresspage"/><ref name="News Bio"/> He received an [[Master of Public Administration|MPA]] from [[Harvard University]]'s [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] in 1996.<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Congresspage"/><ref name="News Bio"/> Higgins has taught courses on state and local government, and the economic history of Buffalo and Western New York, in Buffalo State College's history and economics departments.<ref name="News Bio"/> He served as the 145th district representative to the [[New York State Assembly]] from 1999 to 2004.<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="News Bio"/><ref name="Matters">{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Why He Matters |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/brian-higgins-d-ny/gIQAnP7UAP_topic.html#t-a-glance |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408222018/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/brian-higgins-d-ny/gIQAnP7UAP_topic.html#t-a-glance |archive-date=2016-04-08 |access-date=2014-03-24 |work=Who Runs Gov |publisher=Washington Post}}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==

===Elections===
[[Jack Quinn (politician)|Jack Quinn]], a moderate [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] who had represented the heavily Democratic 27th since 1993, unexpectedly announced his retirement in 2004. In April 2004, Higgins entered the race, and narrowly defeated then-[[Erie County, New York|Erie County]] Comptroller [[Nancy Naples (politician)|Nancy Naples]]. After the 2000 redistricting, the district was made slightly friendlier for Quinn (in part, by adding mostly rural [[Chautauqua County, New York|Chautauqua County]]), but was still at the time the most Democratic district in the country represented by a Republican. Since Higgins's initial election, the district has since reverted to form, and Higgins was reelected without serious difficulty, never receiving less than 60% of the vote. He easily dispatched his 2008 and 2010 opponents even after they posted six-figure fundraising numbers.<ref>[ftp://ftp.fec.gov/FEC/2010/pas210.zip Contributions to candidates and other expenditures from committees, 2010]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''Federal Election Commission'', Washington, DC, 2010, Retrieved 2014-03-23.</ref><ref>[ftp://ftp.fec.gov/FEC/2008/pas208.zip Contributions to candidates and other expenditures from committees, 2008]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''Federal Election Commission'', Washington, DC, 2008, Retrieved 2014-03-23.</ref> In 2006 and 2008, Higgins garnered more than 70% of the vote.

For his first four terms, Higgins represented the southern two-thirds of Buffalo, as well as Chautauqua County. After the 2010 census, his district was renumbered as the 26th, and a special master redrew it to be much more compact and Democratic. He picked up the rest of Buffalo, as well as several inner-ring suburbs that used to be in the territory of [[Louise Slaughter]], while losing Chautauqua County to its traditional [[Southern Tier]] district. He also picked up a large portion of [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara County]], including all of [[North Tonawanda, New York|North Tonawanda]] and 99% of [[Niagara Falls, New York|Niagara Falls]].

Higgins has received financial contributions for his campaigns from many business executives in Western New York throughout his tenure in Congress.<ref name="Funds">Brian Higgins for congress, ''FindTheBest'', Summerland, CA: FindTheBest, 2014.</ref> In 2012, his reelection committee raised more than $1,000,000, with approximately 2/3 coming from individual donors, representing major businesses in Western New York.<ref name="Funds"/>

===Tenure===
Higgins has positioned himself as a [[Centrism|centrist]],<ref name="Matters"/> although his voting record in the House has placed him close to the center of his party. In 1998, he ran for the Assembly on the Democratic and Conservative party lines, and in 2000 and 2004 he ran with both parties' endorsements, as well as that of the Working Families Party.

Higgins describes himself as a pro-[[labor union|union]] moderate who wants to spur job growth. He has said he supports allowing seniors to buy prescription drugs from [[Canada]], and one of his priorities in Congress is legislation allowing the government to negotiate for volume discounts on drugs. He has also said he wants Congress to repeal President [[George W. Bush]]'s tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals.

Higgins procured $279 million over 50 years for [[Erie County, New York|Erie County]]'s various governments and agencies from the [[New York Power Authority]] as part of the Niagara Power Project 50-year relicensing agreement.<ref>{{cite web |date=2010-08-31 |title=Higgins applauds governor's approval of NYPA proceeds bill |url=http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-applauds-governors-approval-of-nypa-proceeds-bill |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bill summary & status: 111th Congress (2009–2010), H.R.2133 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.2133: |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004175314/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.2133: |archive-date=2014-10-04 |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov}}</ref> He is an advocate for economic development and job creation, and played a pivotal role through his membership on the House's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in securing approval for the construction of a new federal courthouse in downtown Buffalo.<ref>{{cite web |date=2012-07-23 |title=House of Representatives passes Higgins' bill to name Buffalo's federal courthouse for Robert H. Jackson |url=http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-of-representatives-passes-higgins-bill-to-name-buffalo-s-federal |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref>

Higgins strongly advocates for increased federal funding for cancer research,<ref>{{cite web |date=2013-02-11 |title=Congressman Higgins joins American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network & Roswell Park Cancer Institute to detail local impact of federal investments in cancer research |url=http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-higgins-joins-american-cancer-society-cancer-action-network |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref> as Buffalo is home to [[Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center]],<ref>{{cite web |date=2014-04-10 |title=Higgins announces over $406,000 grant to Roswell Park Cancer Institute to study pancreatic cancer |url=http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-announces-over-406000-grant-to-roswell-park-cancer-institute-to |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref> the nation's first major medical facility devoted exclusively to treating cancer, with cancer research as its main mission.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.roswellpark.org/about-us/history |access-date=2021-05-14 |website=[[Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center]] |publisher=}}</ref>

In 2006, Higgins and Representatives [[James T. Walsh]] and [[Timothy F. Murphy|Tim Murphy]] met with several government leaders in [[Ireland]] and announced confirmation of the [[Irish Republican Army]] (IRA) weapons decommissioning.<ref name="Ireland">{{cite web |title=Congressman Higgins returns from Irish peace talks and announces Gerry Adams visit to Buffalo |url=http://higgins.house.gov/sites/higgins.house.gov/files/archive/newsroom_ARTICLE3116_4908_PG_12.shtml |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref> Government leaders with whom the three met included Irish Foreign Minister [[Dermot Ahern]], Secretary of State for Northern Ireland [[Peter Hain]], US Ambassador to Ireland [[James C. Kenny]], US Ambassador to the United Kingdom [[Robert H. Tuttle]], and the leadership of each of the main political parties involved in the process for peace.<ref name="Ireland"/>

{{blockquote|Regarding Higgins' visit to Ireland in association with the peace talks, Higgins stated on his congressional website on January 20, 2006:
:I was honored to represent the [[United States]] at this important moment in the [[Northern Ireland peace process|Irish peace process]]. My colleagues and I went to [[Ireland]] and the [[United Kingdom]] to focus international intention on the stalled negotiations and to build momentum for the fulfillment of the [[Good Friday Agreement|Good Friday Accords]]. While we met with leaders from different nationalities, political parties, and religious faiths, each discussion was filled with hope and the common belief that lasting peace can finally reach all residents of Northern Ireland.<ref name="Ireland"/>}}

Higgins has also supported efforts for peace in [[South Asia]] and [[Africa]], and the [[Middle East]], including [[Iraq]], [[Afghanistan]], and [[Darfur]].<ref name="Congresspage"/>

Higgins received an "A+" on the 2007 Congressional Scorecard on middle-class issues from the [[Drum Major Institute]], which describes itself as "providing the ideas that fuel the progressive movement."<ref>{{cite web |date=2014 |title=DMI: Our mission |url=http://drummajorinstitute.org/about-dmi/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127111516/http://drummajorinstitute.org/about-dmi/ |archive-date=2014-01-27 |access-date=2014-03-24 |publisher=DrumMajorInstitute.org}}</ref>

Several media outlets named Higgins as one of the leading candidates to succeed [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[United States Senate]] after she became [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] in an Obama administration.<ref name="Matters"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Benjamin |first=Elizabeth |date=2008-11-16 |title=Rep. Nydia Velazquez is front-runner for Senate seat if Hillary takes Cabinet job |newspaper=NYDailyNews.com |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/11/16/2008-11-16_rep_nydia_velazquez_is_frontrunner_for_s.html |access-date=2010-08-23}}</ref> He was one of six candidates on New York Governor [[David Paterson]]'s "short list" for the position; a [[WKBW-TV]] poll showed 75% of respondents on the station's website would support Higgins's nomination. In the end, Paterson appointed Representative [[Kirsten Gillibrand]]. On January 31, 2009, Higgins led a delegation of Western New York elected leaders in welcoming Gillibrand to the region, moderating an economic roundtable discussion held at the Bioinformatics Center of Excellence, on the [[Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Higgins Attends White House Business Council Roundtable Discussion on Innovation in Healthcare|url=http://higgins.house.gov/2012/02/higgins-attends-white-house-business-council-roundtable-discussion-on-innovation-in-healthcare.shtml|work=Congressman Brian Higgins|publisher=United States House of Representatives|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916040156/http://higgins.house.gov/2012/02/higgins-attends-white-house-business-council-roundtable-discussion-on-innovation-in-healthcare.shtml|archive-date=2012-09-16}}</ref>

In December 2008, after only two terms in the House, Higgins secured a spot on the [[United States House Committee on Ways and Means]],<ref name="Matters"/> considered one of the most important and powerful committees in Congress due to its wide jurisdiction. Higgins was subsequently appointed to serve on the Ways and Means Committee's subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures and its subcommittee on Oversight.<ref>{{cite web|title=Congressman Higgins Assigned to House Ways & Means Subcommittees on Select Revenue Measures and Oversight|url=http://higgins.house.gov/2009/01/pr090109.shtml|work=Higgins page|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916062220/http://higgins.house.gov/2009/01/pr090109.shtml|archive-date=2012-09-16}}</ref> After the GOP takeover of the House following the 2010 elections, Higgins left the Ways and Means Committee and became a member of the [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs]] and the [[United States House Committee on Homeland Security]].<ref name="Congresspage"/><ref name="Matters"/> On the latter, Higgins quickly rose to the position of Ranking Member of the [[United States House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence]].

On February 2, 2024, Higgins resigned from Congress, having announced the plan three months prior on November 12.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Carolyn |title=Longtime Democrat from New York, Brian Higgins, to leave Congress next year |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/longtime-democrat-new-york-brian-higgins-leave-congress-104829852 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123040938/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/longtime-democrat-new-york-brian-higgins-leave-congress-104829852 |archive-date=2023-11-23 |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> He cited his impatience with "growing dysfunction" in Congress as the reason.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fortinsky|first=Sarah|title=Longtime NY House Democrat Brian Higgins to step down over frustrations in Congress |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4306322-longtime-ny-house-democrat-brian-higgins-to-resign-citing-frustrations-in-congress/}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
*'''[[United States House Committee on Ways and Means]]'''
*'''[[United States House Committee on the Budget]]'''

===Caucus memberships===
* Co-chair, member, House Cancer Caucus<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Memberships">{{cite web |date=2012-12-13 |title=Committees and caucuses |url=http://higgins.house.gov/legislation/committees-and-caucuses |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref>
* Co-chair, Revitalizing Older Cities Task Force<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Memberships"/>
* Former co-chair, member, Great Lakes Task Force<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Memberships"/>
* Former co-chair, member, House Cancer Caucus<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Memberships"/>
* Former co-chair, Historic Preservation Caucus<ref name="Bio"/>
* Former co-chair, member, Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Memberships"/>
* Former co-chair, Northern Border Caucus<ref name="Bio"/>
* Member, House Steel Caucus
* Member, China Caucus
* Member, Arts Caucus
* [[Medicare for All Caucus]]
* [[Congressional Arts Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Membership |url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership |archive-date=2018-06-12 |access-date=2018-03-13 |publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Strengthening Conservation Advocacy: Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Expansion & Reconstitution|author=|url=https://www.refugeassociation.org/news/2023/12/18/strengthening-conservation-advocacy-congressional-wildlife-refuge-caucus-expansion-amp-reconstitution |format=|publisher=National Wildlife Refuge Association|date=|accessdate=29 January 2025}}</ref>
* [[Afterschool Caucuses]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Members |url=http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm |access-date=2018-03-23 |publisher=Afterschool Alliance}}</ref>
* [[Black Maternal Health Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Caucus Members
|author=|url=https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov/about-caucus/caucus-members|format=|publisher=Black Maternal Health Caucus|date=|accessdate=3 July 2025}}</ref>
* [[Blue Collar Caucus]]
* [[Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans|author=|url=https://www.tc-america.org/in-congress/caucus.htm|format=|publisher=Turkish Coalition of America|date=|accessdate=27 March 2025}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Equality Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=About the CEC|url=https://equality.house.gov/about-cec/membership| publisher=CEC|access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>

==Political positions==
Higgins voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the [[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]], according to a ''[[FiveThirtyEight]]'' analysis.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bycoffe |first=Aaron |last2=Wiederkehr |first2=Anna |date=2021-04-22 |title=Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/house/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423141050/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/house/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 23, 2021 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=FiveThirtyEight |language=en}}</ref>

Self-described as an independent, Higgins is considered to be in the center of his party. He supports the strengthening of [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], and has been a proponent for a public option of health insurance. He further supports national and regional economic development. Higgins supports [[abortion]] rights. He has also supported efforts for peace in many areas of the world, and has been actively involved in the [[Northern Ireland peace process]].

===Social Security===
On a previous policy position from his website, Higgins said: "For too long, the [[Social Security Administration]] has under-funded and under-staffed hearing offices in [[Western New York]] ... Citizens who have contributed to the [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] system throughout their lives should have proper customer service when their benefits come due."<ref>{{cite web |year=2010 |title=Issue Position: Social Security |url=http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=403028 |access-date=2010-11-23 |publisher=Vote-Smart.org}}</ref>

In 2010, Higgins and many other congressional members sent President [[Barack Obama]] a letter, encouraging him to keep Social Security and make it stronger, saying: "We write today to express our strong support for Social Security and our view that it should be strengthened. We oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits, including raising the retirement age. We also oppose any effort to privatize Social Security, in whole or in part ... Cutting Social Security benefits beyond the already scheduled increase in the retirement age from 65 to 67 would create even more needless hardship for millions of vulnerable Americans." This was in response to Obama giving the task of cutting government spending to the [[National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform]] on October 15, 2010. The letter also stressed that Social Security is "prohibited by law from adding to the national budget deficit".<ref>{{cite web |year=2010 |title=Letter To The Honorable Barack Obama, President, The United States of America |url=http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=616321 |access-date=2010-11-23 |publisher=House.gov}}</ref>

Higgins opposes privatizing Social Security.<ref name="SS">{{cite web |title=Medicare and Social Security |url=http://higgins.house.gov/issues/medicare-and-social-security |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref> He "support[s] full funding for the Social Security Administration to process checks on time; fight against waste, fraud, and abuse; and combat unacceptable claims backlogs".<ref name="SS"/> His district includes nearly 150,000 senior citizens.<ref name="SS"/> Higgins introduced related legislation, House Resolution (HR) 3997, in February 2014.<ref name="SSLeg">{{cite web |title=Bill summary & status: 113th Congress (2013–2014): H.R.3997: All information |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d113:8:./temp/~bdQePe:@@@L&summ2=m& |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The bill aims requires the Social Security Commissioner to submit an estimated annual budget, and to submit the estimated budget to Congress before submitting it to the President; prohibits the closing or limitation of field offices and hearing offices without justification; and mandates particular procedures related to closings, consolidations, and/or public limitations.<ref name="SSLeg" />

===Abortion===
In the [[New York State Assembly]] from 1999 to 2002, Higgins supported certain [[anti-abortion]] measures,<ref>{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Robert |date=2013-03-03 |title=Enemies in high places – Paladino vs. Higgins |url=http://buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130303/CITYANDREGION/130309798/1002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306002849/http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130303%2FCITYANDREGION%2F130309798%2F1002 |archive-date=2013-03-06 |access-date=2013-03-03 |work=[[The Buffalo News]]}}</ref> but since 2003, he has identified himself as [[pro-choice]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Brian Higgins On The Issues: Abortion |url=http://www.issues2000.org/NY/Brian_Higgins.htm |access-date=2014-03-24 |work=On The Issues |publisher=On The Issues; Cambridge, MA}}</ref> In 2006, Higgins was given a rating of 9% by the NRLC, which indicates a pro-choice stance. Higgins received a score of 100% (a perfect score) from [[Planned Parenthood]] in 2012, and from [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |date=2014 |title=A+ for Brian Higgins based on 2 ratings (Planned Parenthood) |url=http://votereports.org/interest_groups/planned-parenthood/report_scores/2248044 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324184242/http://votereports.org/interest_groups/planned-parenthood/report_scores/2248044 |archive-date=2014-03-24 |access-date=2014-03-24 |work=Vote Reports}}</ref>

===Health care===
Higgins voted for the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], also known as "ObamaCare". In June 2012, Higgins said he believed that health care providers will have to embrace "Accountable Care Organizations, comparative effectiveness research — which studies various treatments to determine what works best — and other changes". He believed that this should have been done decades ago.<ref>{{cite news |date=2012-06-24 |title=Health reform's judgment day |newspaper=Buffalo News |publisher=Berkshire Hathaway; Buffalo, NY |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/city/capital-connection/washington/article917936.ece}}</ref>

On his congressional website, Higgins has stated that "there is no question that [the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act] was needed".<ref name="Healthcare">{{cite web |title=Health care |url=http://higgins.house.gov/issues/health-care |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref> He added that it is a beginning of health care reform in the United States.<ref name="Healthcare"/>

Higgins strongly believes in a national health care program, with a "public option", whereby the government provides health insurance that would compete with other businesses' plans. A letter Higgins signed from a group of representatives to Senator [[Harry Reid]], then the Senate Majority Leader, stated: "As the Senate continues to work on health reform legislation, we strongly urge you to consider including a public option."<ref>{{cite web |year=2010 |title=Brian Higgins' issue positions (Political courage test) |url=http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=23127 |access-date=2010-11-23 |publisher=VoteSmart.org; Philipsburg, MT}}</ref> The [[American Public Health Association]] gave Higgins a perfect rating of 100% in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |year=2010 |title=Brian M. Higgins' ratings and endorsements |url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=23127&type=category&category=38&go.x=12&go.y=11 |access-date=2014-03-24 |publisher=VoteSmart.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |year=2010 |title=Issue Positions |url=http://higgins.house.gov/legislation/policy-positions.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202023804/http://higgins.house.gov/legislation/policy-positions.shtml |archive-date=2010-12-02 |access-date=2010-11-23 |publisher=House.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |year=2010 |title=Public statements: Issue position: Health issues |url=http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=403021&keyword=&phrase=&contain= |access-date=2010-11-24 |publisher=VoteSmart.org}}</ref>

===Stimulus spending===
It was reported that Higgins was "proposing something unprecedented in this era of $1.3 trillion annual deficits: a $1.25 trillion, five-year plan to rebuild the nation's roads, bridges, railroads, ports, and airports".<ref name="Spending">{{cite news|author=Zremski, Jerry|date=April 9, 2012|work=Buffalo News|agency=McClatchy|title=Higgins spending bill tops $1 trillion|id = {{ProQuest|992864110}}}}</ref> Higgins's website gives the cost of these endeavors as $1.2 trillion.<ref name="Rebuild">{{cite web |title=Infrastructure and jobs |url=http://higgins.house.gov/issues/infrastructure-and-jobs |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref> The bill, the Nation Building Here at Home Act,<ref name="Rebuild"/> based on research by the [[New America Foundation]],<ref name="Rebuild"/> would cost significantly more than Obama's $787 billion [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|stimulus package]].<ref name="Spending"/> Higgins said that he wants to rebuild the US, "as we've rebuilt other countries — Iraq and Afghanistan — in recent years".<ref name="Spending"/> He also said that it is not a stimulus bill, but a "nation-building bill".<ref name="Spending"/><ref name="Rebuild"/><ref>{{cite news |author=Zremski, J. |date=2012-04-09 |title=Higgins spending bill tops $1 trillion |newspaper=Buffalo News |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/city/capital-connection/washington/article802560.ece |access-date=2012-04-09}}</ref>

===Education===
Higgins is a supporter of education, including early education through higher education.<ref name="Education">{{cite web |title=Education |url=http://higgins.house.gov/issues/education |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref> He has said, "Every child has a right to a quality education."<ref name="Education"/> Ensuring that young people have a quality early education, and that legislators are supportive of education for individuals in primary, elementary, secondary, and higher educational institutions, are among Higgins's aims.<ref name="Education"/> He is a proponent of congressional support for measures that increase student achievement, but that also reward success, rather than punish failure, as the No Child Left Behind Act has done.<ref name="Education"/> Higgins further believes that financial barriers to education should not hinder anyone from pursuing higher education.<ref name="Education"/>

===Student loan interest rates===
Higgins supports maintaining lower interest rates on loans incurred by college and university students.<ref name="Education"/><ref>{{cite web |date=2013-06-25 |title=Higgins calls for action this week to prevent student loan rate increases |url=http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-calls-for-action-this-week-to-prevent-student-loan-rate-increase |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2013-06-18 |title=Higgins fights to keep college student loan rates low |url=http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-fights-to-keep-college-student-loan-rates-low |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref><ref name="Loans">{{cite web |date=2012-04-26 |title=Higgins calls for immediate action to keep student loan interest rates low |url=http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-calls-for-immediate-action-to-keep-student-loan-interest-rates |access-date=2014-09-27 |publisher=Higgins.house.gov}}</ref><ref name="Call">{{cite web |title=Higgins calls for immediate action to keep student loan interest rates low (video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMonaZfv2zk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/IMonaZfv2zk |archive-date=2021-12-22 |access-date=2014-09-27 |work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He co-sponsored two bills — H.R. 3826, and H.R. 4816 — in efforts to extend the period of time in maintaining the reduced 3.4% interest rate on student loans.<ref name="Loans"/><ref name="Call"/> In 2007, Higgins supported The College Cost Reduction and Access Act, a bill passed into law that included the reduced 3.4% interest rate on subsidized Stafford student loans through the end of the 2012 academic year.<ref name="Loans"/><ref name="Call"/>

===Syria===
In 2023, Higgins was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President [[Joe Biden]] to remove U.S. troops from [[Syria]] within 180 days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Syria. |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/118-2023/h136 |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=[[GovTrack]] |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-08 |title=House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2023-03-08/house-votes-down-bill-directing-removal-of-troops-from-syria |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=[[U.S. News & World Report]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Higgins resides in [[South Buffalo, Buffalo|South Buffalo, New York]].<ref name="Bio"/> He has two adult children, John and Maeve.<ref name="Bio"/>

==See also==

*[[List of Harvard University politicians]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://higgins.house.gov/ Congressman Brian Higgins] official U.S. House website
*[http://www.higginsforcongress.com/ Brian Higgins for Congress]
{{CongLinks | congbio=H001038 | votesmart=23127 | fec=H4NY27076 | congress=brian-higgins/1794 }}
*{{C-SPAN|1013050}}

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[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Buffalo Common Council members]]
[[Category:Buffalo State University alumni]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]