Op-Ed Improving Water Quality On Long Island

Improving Water Quality on Long Island

Op-ed Written by Congressman Lee Zeldin (NY-01)

On the East End of Long Island, we have been blessed with an abundance of natural resources that are important to our life and culture. Water quality, specifically, requires a renewed focus and commitment by Long Islanders. Water quality on Long Island has suffered severely from issues such as pollution, overdevelopment and various critical remaining infrastructure needs. Our congressional district is unique in many ways, including the fact that it is almost completely surrounded by water. 

In Congress, I am a member of the Long Island Sound Caucus. Fortunately, on a bipartisan basis, I was able to successfully reverse a proposed 22% cut in funding for the Long Island Sound that was proposed by the President. Additionally, working with Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), we joined together to introduce bipartisan legislation in the House, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act (H.R.2930). This important bill would ensure the Sound receives the resources needed by authorizing $65 million in funding per year through 2020 for a water quality and shore restoration program. To further protect the Sound, I have continued to oppose the misguided plan to dump Connecticut’s dredged waste into this critical waterway. The Long Island Sound should not be a dumping ground for any questionable waste dredged out of Connecticut rivers, which is why I support phasing out all open water disposal of dredged waste into the Sound.

Last month, Congress secured a new law that authorizes $26.5 million in funding for the National Estuary Program, which includes two nationally recognized estuaries on Long Island: the Long Island Sound and Peconic Estuary. This funding not only helps address the urgent and challenging issues related to nitrogen, harmful algae blooms, and flooding or wetland loss, but also supports other local conservation projects to restore local beaches and protect wildlife. I’ve also been advocating in Congress for more of a focus on the Great South Bay because it’s an economically and ecologically critical body of water facing similar issues. It’s important that this waterway is properly maintained and not forgotten.  

There is also a need to make important reforms to ensure the highest quality of drinking water for Long Islanders. Working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance and Awareness Act (H.R.4470). This legislation, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, would put in place a procedure to notify residents if concentrations of lead in drinking water are above federal requirements. It would also create a strategic plan for communities nationwide to prevent any future drinking water crisis, such as the one in Flint, Michigan. I have also been working to advance legislation that would provide funding to upgrade water infrastructure on Long Island. The House should act immediately to pass the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act (H.R. 499), bipartisan legislation that I cosponsor, which would provide municipalities with access to new streams of financing to rebuild critical water infrastructure for high quality drinking water and sewage treatment.

To protect one of Long Island’s most critical natural resources, I introduced legislation, HR 1887, that would prevent the sale of Plum Island by the federal government to the highest bidder. My bill, which passed the House with strong bipartisan support, would ensure that Plum Island is protected for generations to come. With House passage of this bill, it’s now important that New York’s two United States Senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, act quickly to bring this important bill to the Senate floor to pursue a better direction for Plum Island that would allow for continued research, public access and permanent preservation.

Late last year, Congress passed legislation, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act (H.R. 2029), which successfully saved the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) after the previous Congress had allowed this program to lapse. This important legislation provided critical funding for our Long Island waterways, while also providing funding for municipalities through LWCF grant programs. Through grants targeted at the local level, LWCF funding will be used to save beaches, marshes, and streams that keep Long Island water safe and clean, and includes funding for 75 parks in Suffolk County alone. By passing this legislation, Congress also established a permanent tax deduction for conservation easements. This important tax credit will help preserve local land, while giving more certainty to Long Island conservationists on the East End as they strive to protect our water and overall environment.

There is much more work still ahead to safeguard our environment and improve our water quality, and as your Congressman, I will continue to help lead this effort for Long Island.

Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is also a member of the Long Island Sound Caucus and the Congressional Shellfish Caucus in the House of Representatives.