Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, joined House and Senate colleagues, federal officials, New York State and Connecticut officials, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in announcing more than $5 million in funding through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) for New York organizations and local governments to conserve habitat in and around the Long Island Sound and improve water quality throughout the area. Federal funding for these projects was included in Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations legislation, which Congressman Zeldin voted in favor of in December 2020.
In 2018, Congressman Zeldin secured a long-term reauthorization for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Long Island Sound Program at $65 million per year for 5 years, which previously had not been reauthorized since 2006 when it was reauthorized then at $25 million per year.
“As Co-Chairman of the Long Island Sound Caucus, I understand that the Long Island Sound is a regional and national treasure, as well as a critical economic, recreational and environmental resource,” said Congressman Zeldin. “This more than $5 million in funding through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund will allow us to keep preserving and improving the Sound’s water quality, natural habitats and overall health for generations to come. Thank you to everyone at the federal, state and nonprofit levels who have worked tirelessly over the years for the betterment of the Long Island Sound.”
Included in the funding are two grants specific to NY-1:
- Nearly $700,000 to develop a climate and shoreline adaptation, monitoring, and management plan for common and roseate terns at Great Gull Island, New York.
- Almost $170,000 to plant 200,000 American oysters and assess their potential to both remove or "bioextract" pollution and repopulate a historic fishery in Port Jefferson Harbor. This project will remove 130 pounds of nitrogen pollution annually from a harbor of Long Island Sound.