Suffolk Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Reps. Nick LaLota (R-NY-01) and Joe Courtney (D-CT-03), Co-Chairs of the Long Island Sound Caucus, released a statement following the bipartisan passage of their Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act in the House. The act aims to reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program to ensure the protection and preservation of the Sound.

“For communities across my district in Suffolk County, the Long Island Sound is much more than just a body of water — it is a way of life that has sustained and provided for our communities for generations. By safeguarding the Sound, we support the local economies that depend on tourism, fishing, and maritime industries,” said LaLota. “My bill is not just about environmental protection; it is about investing in the future of our communities and the people who rely on the Sound. I am proud to have worked with my colleague from across the Sound and the aisle, Congressman Courtney, to advance this legislation and I look forward to pushing it across the finish line to the President’s desk.”

“With strong bipartisan support, the House passed Congressman LaLota and I’s Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Reauthorization Act to preserve and manage this unique tidal estuary. Our legislation reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Long Island Sound Programs for five years to ensure the Sound remains a valuable resource for our communities,” said Courtney. “Congress last established a five-year reauthorization under the then Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act in 2018, and it is necessary for us to renew our commitment to these critical programs. Thank you to Congressman LaLota, fellow Co-Chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, for his leadership.”

“Despite its proximity to New York City, Long Island enjoys a variety of wildlife habitats in need of maintenance and upkeep,” said Rep. Bruce Westerman, Chair of the Natural Resources Committee. “The Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023 will develop conservation programs for the 12 priority habitats included in the Long Island Sound and surrounding areas. I commend Representative LaLota for advancing these solutions to ensure good stewardship over essential habitats.”

LaLota spoke on the House floor ahead of the bill’s passage.

Last month, LaLota announced he had secured $40 million in federal funding for the Long Island Sound Program through an Interior and Environment Appropriations bill signed into law in March.

In January, LaLota testified at a Natural Resources Committee hearing in support of his Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. The same month, he testified at a Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing advocating for including a reauthorization of the Long Island Sound Program in the biannual Water Resources Development Act.

The Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act would reauthorize the program through 2028. Established by Congress in 1985 as part of an effort known as the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), this initiative brings together various stakeholders including EPA, New York State, Connecticut, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to address major environmental issues affecting Long Island Sound.

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