Rep. Nick LaLota announced that ten community projects he authored have been signed into law, bringing $11,839,915 in federal funding to Suffolk County. The funds will support clean water infrastructure, law enforcement equipment, and environmental protection efforts throughout New York’s First Congressional District.
“Suffolk County families deserve clean drinking water and safe communities, and these federal investments will deliver exactly that,” said Rep. LaLota. “From mitigating PFAS contamination in our groundwater to equipping our police departments with modern vehicles and communications equipment, these projects represent targeted, taxpayer-funded solutions to real problems facing Long Island residents.”
“These aren’t generic federal programs—these are solutions designed specifically for Suffolk County challenges identified by local officials,” Rep. LaLota continued. “Whether it’s the PFAS contamination at EPCAL that requires federal responsibility, road drainage infrastructure in Miller Place and Sound Beach, aging sewer infrastructure in St. James, or modern police equipment from Asharoken to East Hampton, these projects address real needs with local input.”
The approved projects include funding for new police vehicles across several departments: $2.27 million for the Suffolk County Police Department’s vehicle fleet acquisitions; $1.2 million for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office fleet enhancement; $871,701 for Southold Town Police Department vehicles; $782,100 for technology upgrades to Southampton Town Police Department’s mobile command center; and $132,857 for radio upgrades in Southold Town.
Water quality improvements are also a focus of the legislation. Projects include $2.25 million for installing water mains in Calverton and Riverhead homes affected by PFAS/PFOA contamination linked to past military industrial activity at EPCAL; $1.09 million to extend Smithtown’s public water system to homes with contaminated wells; $1 million each for upgrading St. James’ sewer treatment plant and replacing Kings Park’s outfall pipe.
Infrastructure work includes a $1.25 million storm drainage project in Brookhaven aimed at improving flood resilience following damage from Hurricane Ida.
Five additional transportation and economic development projects totaling $15.3 million have passed the House but await further Senate action.
Rep. LaLota has represented New York’s 1st district since 2023 after succeeding Lee Zeldin as U.S. Representative (https://lalota.house.gov/about). He was born in Bay Shore in 1978 and resides in Amityville.
The newly funded projects were developed based on needs identified by local officials throughout Suffolk County.
