{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-collins-call-on-customs-border-protection-to-alleviate-peace", "Higgins, Collins Call on Customs & Border Protection to Alleviate Peace Bridge Staffing Shortages", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Brian Higgins", "H001038", "higgins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) and Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) wrote to Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Thomas Winkowski to inquire about staffing deficits at the Peace Bridge that cause delays and unreasonably long wait times.\n\u00a0\n\u201cWestern New York\u2019s economy relies on the ease and accessibility of moving people and goods across the border,\u201d said Congressman Higgins. \u201cIf congestion at the Peace Bridge is impeding cross border commerce, this is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. I am committed to making sure we take the steps necessary to ease these delays.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u201cUnreasonably long wait times and delays at the Peace Bridge are more than just an inconvenience to travelers, they are a direct hit to our local economy,\u201d said Congressman Collins. \u00a0\u201cStats show wait time at the Peace Bridge has doubled from year to year and the scope of this problem at similar crossing points \u2013 such as the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge \u2013 remains unclear. \u00a0 CBP needs to focus on addressing this growing problem before it weakens the economy of Western New York.\u201d\n\u00a0\nIn the letter, the Congressmen note that increasing delays at the Peace Bridge pose a significant threat to the Western New York region\u2019s economy, writing, in part: \u201cEvery year the bridge facilitates the transport of over $30 billion in commerce across the Niagara River, spurring $227.4 billion in economic activity, and supporting one million jobs.\u201d\n\u00a0\nAdditionally:\n Canadians purchase approximately 20% of Buffalo Bills and 24% of Buffalo Sabres season tickets;\n\t38% of airline passengers flying out of Buffalo Niagara International Airport are Canadian; and\n\tMore than 3,000 Canadian students attend college in the Buffalo Niagara region\n \u00a0\nLast week, Higgins and Collins met with representatives from CBP in Washington, D.C. to express their concerns with wait times at the Peace Bridge.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-collins-call-on-customs-border-protection-to-alleviate-peace"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5828181058168411, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}