I recently added my name to a resolution introduced by Representative Rosa DeLauro to honor the Catholic sisters for their contributions to this country and to my community. I grew up in the shadows of the Mercy Convent of south Buffalo…

Every day more and more cancer patients across the country are denied coverage for smart drugs because insurance companies refuse to cover them. A resident in my district called my office last month to say that her insurance company…

The Great Lakes are our most threatened national assets, yet they are the largest source of fresh water in the world, and account for $7 billion in economic activity annually. In my western New York community, the resurgence of our Inner…

In the past year, the United States Postal Service has attempted to close thousands of its facilities across the Nation. Though many, including the mail processing facility in Buffalo, have been spared, the process gives me no confidence…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 37, line 18, after the dollar amount insert ``(increased by $58,000,000)''. Page 55, line 2, after the dollar amount…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York will be postponed. The Clerk will read. The Clerk read as follows: firefighter…

My amendment, which is cosponsored by Representative Stivers, is a bipartisan effort to provide essential public safety funding to communities across the country that have been determined to be at high risk of a terrorist threat. This…

Last week we learned that the Williams Street mail processing facility in my Buffalo community will remain open despite proposals by the Postal Service to close it. While this is welcome news, I remain deeply disappointed by the ``decide…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

On Monday, President Obama released his 2013 budget proposal. The budget recognizes that infrastructure investments are necessary to create an environment of growth. For western New York in particular, we are pleased it includes measures…

The Great Lakes are the largest source of freshwater in the world, and they support vital shipping and recreation jobs. The fishery alone accounts for $7 billion in annual economic activity. But the Great Lakes face a very real threat from…

On Sunday, tens of millions of Americans will gather with family and friends to watch the Super Bowl. Many from my western New York community will be among them. Unfortunately, western New York families do not always have the opportunity…

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion in western New York on innovations in health care. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Bill Corr was in attendance, as were many innovation leaders…

I bring to this House and the Nation great news from Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. Roswell Park is the first comprehensive cancer institute in the entire Nation. Today, they are launching a clinical trial to test the use of a…

Yesterday we marked the end of the war in Iraq. I join with all of my colleagues in expressing our gratitude to those Americans who served when their country called. We owe it to our returning veterans to do everything we can to make sure…

I believe that one of the keys to keeping our country globally competitive is to increase the number of American students who are prepared to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology. So it is with special pride that I note…

As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I rise to express my concern about the direction of the Urban Area Security Initiative program. UASI was created to develop capabilities to prevent and to respond to attacks and…