Congressman Lee Zeldin, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Long Island Sound Caucus, has announced that the Senate passed the 5-year reauthorization of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Long Island Sound Program.
The program, which Rep. Zeldin secured at $65 million per year, will now head to the President’s desk to become law following Senate passage of House Amendment to S. 3021 – America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which included the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act (H.R. 1674).
“ The Long Island Sound is a critical part of our way of life, culture and economy, supporting tens of billions of dollars in economic value per year. The health and vitality of the Sound help so many hardworking Long Islanders put food on the table and provide a better future for their families ,” said Congressman Zeldin .
“ Protecting and restoring this important waterway, which has suffered from pollution and overdevelopment for too many years goes hand in hand with improving our area’s water quality, restoring our natural habitats and improving local residents’ quality of life. Finally, working across the aisle and across the Sound, instead of facing the threat of being gutted year after year, this program and those who rely on it have the long-term certainty they need to carry out their important work ,” added Congressman Zeldin.
Prior to this legislation, the EPA’s Long Island Sound Program was last reauthorized for five years in 2006 at $25 million per year.