Senators and Reps Push for Improved Protection of LI Sound

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and Representatives Lee Zeldin, Tom Suozzi and Rosa DeLauro have announced that the Omnibus Appropriations bill, which is set to pass Congress, includes $8 million in federal funding for the Long Island Sound program.

The federal investment is over $4 million more than last year’s funding level.

“The Long Island Sound is a natural treasure and an economic engine for the whole region that draws families, boaters, tourists and anglers to our shores. This $8 million investment is double what we secured last year and will help restore and protect the beaches and waters in and around the Long Island Sound for current and future generations,” said Senator Schumer.

“Doubling the money for the Long Island Sound program this year will go a long way towards better protecting the ecological treasure,” added Senator Murphy. “This $8 million will be used to improve Long Island Sound, and it will ultimately inject money right back into the local economy along Connecticut’s shoreline.”

Last month, the bipartisan Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act unanimously passed out of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and is headed to the full Senate for a vote.

Earlier this year, the members led a bipartisan letter to the Environmental Protection Agency urging Administrator Scott Pruitt to oppose cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Long Island Sound geographic program for Fiscal Year 2018.