Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, held a virtual press conference to announce that New York Third’s Congressional District will receive nearly $3 million in matching federal grants for projects to preserve and protect the Long Island Sound.

 

“The Long Island Sound is our ‘National Park,’ and we have to treat it that way,” said Suozzi. “For 27 years, since entering public service, first as Mayor of Glen Cove in 1994 and then as Nassau County Executive in 2002, I have worked on restoring shellfishing beds and reseeding our harbors, cutting nitrogen from sewage treatment plants and stormwater runoff, and cleaning up pollution. As a Member of Congress, in the role of Co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, I helped to increase federal funding to protect the Sound by nearly 900%.”

 

When Suozzi came to Congress in 2017, federal funding for the Long Island Sound was merely $4 million. Since then, Suozzi has fought for and successfully increased federal funding to $30.4 million, an increase of 900%. The Long Island Sound is not only an environmental treasure, but also a revenue source to the area, generating upwards of $1 billion to the regional economy.

 

“Over the last 30 years, we have made significant progress to increase funding for the preservation and protection of the Long Island Sound, restoration of habitats, monitoring of water quality, and education of the public” said Suozzi. “We need to maintain and increase this momentum so that generations of New Yorkers can all benefit from our most precious natural resource.”

 

Suozzi was joined on the press conference call by Long Island Sound and environmental advocacy groups including: Curt Johnson, President, Save the Sound; Cecilia Venosta-Wiygul, Udalls Cove Preservation Committee and Board Member, Douglaston Civic Association; Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment; Vanessa Pino Lockel, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk; Eric Swenson, Executive Director, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee; Carol DiPaolo, Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor; and Heather Johnson, Executive Director, Friends of the Bay.

 

“I grew up swimming and fishing in the Sound. Thanks to the strong support and advocacy of environmental organizations such as Save the Sound, Douglaston Manor Environmental Association, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Friends of the Bay, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, and many others, these federal grants will go a long way in ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy a clean Long Island Sound.”

 

“Over the last 30 years, we have made significant progress to increase funding for the preservation and protection of the Long Island Sound, restoration of habitats, monitoring of water quality, and education of the public” said Suozzi. “We need to maintain and increase this momentum so that generations of New Yorkers can all benefit from our most precious natural resource.”

 

“We are thrilled to be able to expand the Long Island Sound High School Summit! Last year we had 4 schools engaged and this year we have 8. This is the first program on Long Island that specifically engages high school students in protecting and restoring the Long Island Sound through hands on research in various topics including micro plastics, water quality, marine debris, social marketing, and much more. Students become more connected to protection of the natural world when they understand the value it brings to their community and obtain resources and knowledge in how to protect it,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “We are extremely thankful to Congressman Suozzi for his leadership in securing this federal funding which makes this whole program possible.”

 

“Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County is grateful for the support from The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Long Island Sound Futures Fund as it ensures that our critical work to protect and enhance the environment continues.  This funding enables our experts to work to restore the health of the Long Island Sound by removing floating debris and derelict lobster gear that negatively impact our waters.  In addition, support for an innovative natural living shoreline restoration project utilizing cordgrass and ribbed mussels will enhance the coastal health and vitality around the Long Island Sound.  We appreciate the shared commitment to our waters and the communities that enjoy this natural resource,” said Vanessa Pino Lockel, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

 

“Long Island Sound is the heart of our region—ecologically, economically, and culturally,” said Curt Johnson, president of Save the Sound. “Thanks to Congressman Suozzi and our other New York and Connecticut congressional champions, the projects made possible by Long Island Sound Futures Fund act as a deep breath that enlivens our urban sea with vibrant habitats, cleaner water, and good jobs. It truly funds Long Island Sound’s future.”

 

The National Fish and Wildlife Federation announced that the Long Island Sound (both in Connecticut and New York) will receive $4.8 million in matching funds, providing a total conservation impact of $10.2 million. Of that amount, New York’s 3rd Congressional District will receive $1,540,437 in matching funds, bringing a total to $2,944,218 for Long Island Sound projects across the district. Areas of the district that will receive funding include Udalls Cove and Little Neck Bay in Queens, Roslyn, Hempstead Harbor, Oyster Bay, and Centerport and Northport Harbors.

 

Details for each of the projects that impact Suffolk County are below; full list attached: