Higgins named chair of Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group

Congressman Brian Higgins was named by House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve as chairman of the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group, a coalition of elected leaders from both the U.S. and Canada committed to advancing dialog and policies of mutual interest. This is a new role for Higgins, a longtime member of the group.

“The United States and Canada are the world’s largest trading partners and strongest allies,” Higgins said. “This group brings our nations’ leaders together to advance efforts to enhance our interconnected economies and collaborate on issues of mutual interest, including the environment, border security and infrastructure.”

Higgins is a member of the House of Representatives Budget Committee and the Committee on Ways and Means, including its subcommittees on trade, health and social security. He also serves as co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, is a member of the Great Lakes Task Force, and previously served as a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security Committees.

Higgins has been a vocal advocate for improved border infrastructure to better accommodate cross-border commerce and expand economic opportunity for both nations. Last year, he travelled Montreal for round six of discussions on the new North American Free Trade Agreement. In 2015, Higgins participated in the historic signing of the pre-clearance agreement between the two countries in the Beyond the Border Action Plan.

Higgins’ Western New York district, which includes the Cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, borders Canada and is comprised of four international crossings.