(WKBW release) New York Congressman Brian Higgins has been selected by the House Committee on Homeland Security to serve as Ranking Member of its Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
According to a news release:
The Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence has jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security’s intelligence divisions.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve the subcommittee as ranking member,” said Higgins. “I welcome the opportunity to bring my experience representing a border community to fight for safer borders – and a safer nation. I am particularly interested in having the opportunity to explore the threat of Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere, which is an issue of great concern for the Western New York community.”
"I looking forward to working with Congressman Higgins on his new assignment as the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee Ranking Member,” said Representative Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security. “He brings extensive experience in Congress and unique insight about the homeland security challenges at the Northern Border."
Higgins has been a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security since January 2011. In addition to serving as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism & Intelligence, Higgins remains a member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security. He also is the lead Democrat to the U.S. –Canada Interparliamentary Exchange, a coalition of Members of Congress who have committed to strengthening relations and dialogue with Canadian political leaders.
While on the Committee, Higgins has called for increased attention to the threat of Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in the Toronto area. He has also led the fight to restore funding to communities like Buffalo-Niagara that were dropped from the Urban Area Security Initiative program.
Additionally, Higgins is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and has a deep personal interest in U.S. foreign policy. He has traveled abroad widely, in locations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Northern Ireland, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Africa, including Darfur.
