Brian Higgins currently serves as a Member of Congress representing New York’s 27th Congressional District, which includes a large portion of the city of Buffalo, most of the eastern and southern suburban localities within Erie County, and all of Chautauqua County in Western New York.

Congressman Higgins is a strong advocate for forward progress on economic development projects in Western New York. He was instrumental in securing a $279 million settlement from the New York Power Authority that is earmarked for development along Buffalo’s inner and outer harbors. Congressman Higgins also played a critical role in gaining final approvals for the new $130 million dollar Federal Courthouse in downtown Buffalo and $3.72 million for work on the Jamestown train station and connector trail as well as dozens of additional public works initiatives from Cheektowaga to the Pennsylvania line. His efforts also contributed to the elimination of the toll barriers on the I-190 in the city of Buffalo. 

Congressman Higgins is a champion for national issues important to Western New Yorkers. He is fighting for adequate local staffing to address severe Social Security case backlogs, approved new legislation to make college more affordable for working families and he continues to push for increased levels of funding to support promising research and treatments for cancer. 

Congressman Higgins also has a deep interest in U.S. foreign policy and has traveled extensively through some of the most volatile regions in the world and has met with world leaders to promote peace in Northern Ireland, the Middle East, South Asia and Africa, including Darfur, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Congressman Higgins currently sits on the House Committee on Ways and Means, the House of Representatives’ chief economic development committee.  As a new member of the committee in the 111th Congress, Congressman Higgins aims to use tax incentives to spur job creation and investment in Western New York, cut taxes for the middle class, create jobs in the local alternative energy industry, and improve our healthcare system.

Congressman Higgins served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1999 to 2004, and prior to that as a member of the Buffalo Common Council, where in a 1993 Buffalo News survey he was named “Buffalo’s Best Councilmember.” 

The Congressman was an instructor of the History and Economics departments at Buffalo State College. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Buffalo State College in political science and history, respectively. He also has an advanced degree in public policy and administration from Harvard University.

Congressman Higgins is the son of the late Daniel Higgins, Sr., a bricklayer and union leader, and Mary Higgins, a retired schoolteacher.  Brian, his wife Mary Jane Hannon and their two children, John and Maeve, reside in South Buffalo, New York.