Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) commends New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo for his swift and decisive actions on issues important to Western New York and encourages the public to learn more about their rights and the Attorney General’s services through a community forum hosted in Buffalo.

            “In five months Attorney General Cuomo has demonstrated that he understands the issues that matter to residents in Western New York by protecting college students in the dozens of local higher education institutions against unfair student loan practices and defending City of Buffalo residents against blight worsened by fraudulent house flipping scams,” said Congressman Higgins.  “Now the Attorney General’s office kick’s off a series of community forums right here in Buffalo by offering local residents the opportunity to learn more about how his office works and residents’ rights on consumer issues.”

            The Attorney General’s office will host this Civil Rights Forum titled “New Yorkers, Know your rights” at 6pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2007.  The event is open to the public and will be held in the Minnie Gillette Auditorium at Erie Community College City Campus, 121 Ellicott Street in Buffalo.  Representatives from Attorney General Cuomo’s Civil Rights Bureau, Regional Office and Intergovernmental Affairs Department will be on hand to discuss housing, employment, lending and various other consumer rights. 

            Last month Congressman Higgins joined a majority of members in the House of Representatives to approve the Student Loan Sunshine Act, legislation aimed at cleaning up the relationship between student lenders and colleges.  This action was taken following Attorney General Cuomo’s testimony before Congress which detailed his efforts to investigate and expose conflicts of interest and other unethical practices in the student loan industry.