Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5441, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023, which I introduced as the lead Democratic sponsor along with my Republican colleague and Long Island Sound Caucus co-chair, Nick LaLota from New York.

This overdue, bipartisan bill, which will be voted on this evening, reauthorizes critical Long Island Sound program funding, which expired at the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Congress must reauthorize this important program as soon as possible to ensure that Federal funds can continue to preserve and protect this unique body of water in the most densely populated area of our country.

Mr. Speaker, Long Island Sound is a national treasure. It is a tidal estuary that stretches 110 miles west to east, from the East River in New York City to Block Island Sound in Rhode Island. Its depth ranges from 65 feet to 230 feet, allowing transit for large and small ocean- going vessels.

Eighteen freshwater rivers flow into its salt waters, inducing an abundant array of plant life, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, and birds.

It has been inhabited by humans for centuries, before European settlement up to the present. Now, more than 20 million Americans live within an hour's drive from its shores.

It is also a powerful engine to the region's economy, including maritime transportation, commercial and recreational fishing, ecotourism, and other water-dependent industries, including shipbuilding. Submarine construction at Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, in my district in southeastern Connecticut, employs 16,000 workers and another 7,000 at Quonset Point in Rhode Island.

With all of that activity, it is clear an organized effort is required to sustain the Long Island Sound economy in a way that balances growth with its core natural coastal habitat.

To respond to this need, Congress passed the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act, which provided Federal dollars going back to 2006 for projects to revitalize the wildlife population. In 2018, Congress reauthorized that law and greatly expanded the annual investment to $40 million per year. Thanks to that funding, the amount of nitrogen entering Long Island Sound from sewage treatment plants has been reduced by 70 percent compared to the 1990s; hypoxic conditions have been reduced by 58 percent compared to the 1990s; over 2,239 acres of coastal habitat have been restored; and 570 conservation projects have been funded.

Through the advocacy of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Long Island Sound received $40 million in both 2023 and 2024, the largest funding level in the history of the program.

Mr. Speaker, to ensure that Congress can continue to support this amazing success, we must move quickly tonight and pass H.R. 5441.

Again, I thank my fellow Caucus co-chair, Representative LaLota from New York, and the Natural Resources Committee for their leadership in moving this bill forward. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.

Welcoming Liat Beinin Atzili

Mr. Speaker, I rise to welcome Liat Beinin Atzili to Washington, D.C. She is visiting the White House today to advocate for the safe return of all Israeli hostages being held by Hamas.

Liat, a dual American-Israeli citizen, and her husband, Aviv, were violently taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 from their Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Liat's extended family lives in Waterford, Connecticut. She had, in fact, visited that coastal town just weeks before the October 7 attack.

When her cousin in Waterford, resident Jerry Fischer, learned that Liat and her husband were kidnapped, he immediately called me on the morning of October 8.

Within just a few hours, my chief of staff, Ayanti Grant, set up Liat and Aviv as missing person cases to the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, immediately putting those agencies into action.

Over the following weeks, those agencies worked with the Atzili family closely to ensure that her release was a top priority for the administration.

Thanks to President Biden and Secretary Blinken's persistent diplomatic efforts, Liat was released 53 days later, alongside 104 other hostages taken during that weeklong cease-fire last November.

Unfortunately, hours after Liat's release, she was informed that her husband, Aviv, had been murdered by Hamas on October 7. The relief and joy that she and her family experienced upon her release was abruptly replaced by grief and sadness.

Despite her traumatic loss, Liat is here today in Washington as a living, breathing example of what diplomacy and negotiation can achieve. She wants to make sure that every other hostage gets the same result that she did.

I thank Liat, her father, Yehuda Beinin, and her cousin, Jerry Fischer, for turning this horrific experience into a call for a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Israel.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5441) to reauthorize Long Island Sound programs, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5441, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5441, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023.

Representative LaLota's legislation reauthorizes programs that promote collaboration between Federal agencies, State and local governments, and other stakeholders to protect and preserve the Long Island Sound.

H.R. 5441 reauthorizes the Long Island Sound Study through 2028 at current funding levels. The Long Island

Sound Study was created in 1985, and for several decades it has been instrumental in protecting the sound and its broader watershed. The Long Island Sound Study established the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan that focuses on habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, and sets ecosystem targets for the next 20 years.

A component of the program also provides grants to local officials deploying restoration projects. The program has been responsible for the restoration of more than 2,000 acres of habitat.

With 4 million people living in the sound's communities, and 9 million in its watershed, protection of this resource helps to safeguard the region's economy and the environment.

The Long Island Sound Study has been updated in recent decades to create more effective partnerships to manage the sound, to ensure that all stakeholders are at the table, and to provide resources to local officials carrying out projects.

I thank Representative LaLota for his work on a bipartisan basis to reauthorize these important programs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of

Representatives,

Washington, DC, June 21, 2024.

Hon. Bruce Westerman,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Westerman: I am writing to you concerning

H.R. 5441, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship

Reauthorization Act of 2023. The bill was referred primarily

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with

an additional referral to the Committee on Natural Resources.

Specifically, there are certain provisions of H.R. 5441 that

fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure.

I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this

legislation before the House of Representatives in an

expeditious manner, and accordingly, agree the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure shall be discharged from

further consideration of the bill. However, this is

conditional on our mutual understanding that by foregoing

consideration of H.R. 5441 at this time, we do not waive any

jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or

similar legislation that falls with the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure's Rule X jurisdiction, and

the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved on

this or similar legislation as it moves forward. Further,

this does not prejudice the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure with respect to the appointment of conferees

and should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would

appreciate your agreement to support my request to have the

Committee represented on the conference committee.

Finally, I would ask that a copy of this letter and your

response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the

bill be included in the Committee Report and Congressional

Record during consideration of H.R. 5441 on the House floor.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves,

Chairman, Committee on Transportation

and Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaLota).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. Speaker, the management of the United States' natural resources requires effective coordination between all levels of government and local stakeholders. The legislation sponsored by Representative LaLota reauthorizes programs that support the health and well-being of the Long Island Sound.

By reauthorizing these programs, we allow this critical work to continue, conserving an important resource that is vital for the region's economy and the environment.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, for so many communities across Suffolk County and beyond, the Long Island Sound is so much more than a body of water. It is a way of life that has sustained and provided for our communities for generations. The Long Island Sound is a cornerstone of our environmental makeup, a driver of our local economy, and a hub of recreational and cultural activities for millions of people, Mr. Speaker.

For decades, the sound has faced numerous environmental challenges, including pollution, habitat loss, and the impacts of a changing world. These challenges have threatened the health of the sound and the well- being of the communities that rely on it.

That is why it is incredibly important that, later today, we will be voting on and hopefully passing my legislation, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023. This critical piece of legislation seeks to reauthorize vital programs that have been essential in preserving and restoring one of our Nation's most treasured natural resources, the Long Island Sound.

My legislation addresses these challenges head-on by authorizing robust funding and strategic initiatives to improve water quality, restore habitats, and enhance the resilience of the

sound's ecosystems. This bill also reauthorizes crucial programs that have already made significant strides in reducing nitrogen pollution, protecting wetlands, and promoting sustainable development along the shoreline.

This legislation is not only about environmental protection but investing in the future of our communities and the people who rely on the sound. By continuing to safeguard the sound, we are supporting the local economies that depend on tourism, fishing, and other maritime industries. We are also ensuring that future generations can enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities that the sound offers.

I thank my colleague from across the aisle and the sound, Congressman

Joe Courtney of Connecticut, members of the bipartisan Long Island Sound Caucus who have worked tirelessly on this legislation for more than a year, including my good friends Representatives D'Esposito and Garbarino, and Chairman Graves and Chairman Westerman, whose leadership was instrumental in getting this legislation to the floor. Our collective efforts reflect a shared commitment to the health and prosperity of the entire region.

I also thank the various stakeholders, environmental organizations, and community leaders who all pitched in and who have tirelessly advocated for the protection and restoration of the sound, especially my friends at Save the Sound and Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

Mr. Speaker, the Long Island Sound is an irreplaceable natural asset, and we have to protect it. This legislation provides the tools and resources necessary to continue the important work of restoring and preserving this vital ecosystem. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill and reaffirming our commitment to the Long Island Sound.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 5441 would reauthorize the Long Island Sound programs at the current funding level of $40 million annually through fiscal year 2028. These vital programs include the Long Island Sound Grants and the Long Island Sound Stewardship Grants.

The Long Island Sound is a tidal estuary and marine sound, and it is a unique and irreplaceable natural resource. It stretches approximately 110 miles across the north shore of Long Island and the coast of Connecticut.

Its extensive watershed reaches into Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Quebec.

The sound was formed around 15,000 years ago when a terminal moraine dam failed, allowing freshwater from glacial Lake Connecticut to mix with the Atlantic Ocean. This newly formed estuary supported indigenous communities for over 11,000 years before European colonization.

Today, the areas surrounding Long Island Sound are heavily developed, leading to significant degradation of its water quality and ecosystems due to pollution from industry, agriculture, sewage, and runoff.

Despite this, the sound's unique hydrology and geology support diverse coastal ecosystems, including marshes, tidal pools, dunes, and eelgrass meadows.

These habitats are home to abundant wildlife, including the endangered shortnose sturgeon. Protecting these ecosystems and species remains an ongoing and critical challenge that requires continuous support.

The management of Long Island Sound falls to the States, not the Federal Government. In 1985, Congress established the Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study to address significant environmental issues affecting the sound.

This conference brings together the EPA, New York State, Connecticut, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions to restore and protect the sound and its watershed.

The conference oversees numerous initiatives, including monitoring and pollution control programs, grant coordination, public education, outreach, and policy development.

Reauthorizing these programs through H.R. 5441 is essential for the sound's continued recovery and conservation. These efforts will help restore water quality, protect vital ecosystems, and ensure the sound remains a vibrant and healthy resource for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on July 8th and 9th as I needed to attend the funeral services of a close friend.

Had I been present for the following roll call votes, I would have voted Aye on:

Roll Call No. 336, July 8, 2024: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 897, Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act;

Roll Call No. 337, July 8, 2024: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 5441, Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act;

Roll Call No. 340, July 9, 2024: On Motion to Recommit--H.R. 7637, Refrigerator Freedom Act; and

Roll Call No. 342, July 9, 2024: On Motion to Recommit--H.R. 7700, Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act.

Had I been present for the following roll call votes, I would have voted No on:

Roll Call No. 338, July 9, 2024: On Ordering the Previous Question H. Res. 1341, Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 8281, Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act; H.R. 8772, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2025; H.R. 7700, Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act; H.R. 7637, Refrigerator Freedom Act; and the joint resolution H.J. Res. 165;

Roll Call No. 339, July 9, 2024: On Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 1341, Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 8281, Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act; H.R. 8772, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2025; H.R. 7700, Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act; H.R. 7637, Refrigerator Freedom Act; and the joint resolution H.J. Res. 165;

Roll Call No. 341, July 9, 2024: On Passage--H.R. 7637, Refrigerator Freedom Act; and

Roll Call No. 343, July 9, 2024: On Passage--H.R. 7700, Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act.