Congressman Tom SuozziHis administration announced at a Sea Cliff Municipal Beach news conference on April 21 that it has contributed to more than $33,000,000 in federal funding for environmental clean up projects throughout Long Island and northeast Queens.
Out of the $33 million, $31 million was spent on Long Island Sound. This represents a 900% increase in funding since he was elected as Congressman in 2017. The announcement was made one day before Earth Day.
Suozzi claims that he was able spend so much time and money on improving Long Island’s environment and Queens’ environment through community project funding. This allows members of Congress request funding to support specific community projects that have the greatest impact in their respective districts. Five of his eight community initiatives have been dedicated to environmental clean-up or restoration.
Suozzi also contributed $31 million to Long Island Sound restoration. The $2-3 million was distributed across several other projects.
A total of $300,000 has been funded on shellfish seeding in Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Huntington Harbors, and $600,000 has been used on storm water management in Little Neck Bay’s Alley Pond, Linnaeus Park and Udalls Cove.
North Hempstead Beach Park renovations cost $1 million. In Glen Cove, $1 million was spent on rehabilitation of a pump station at Nancy Court.
Around 10 million seed clams are planned to be strategically placed in the Hempstead, Oyster bay and Huntington Harbors. They will be able to filter the water and produce enough larvae to increase their population into the future. The Little Neck Bay stormwater management system will be used for improving water quality in Alley Pond, Linnaeus Park, and Udalls Cove.
“I have devoted a significant part of my past 25 years in public service to cleaning up the pollution, dramatically reducing nitrogen, modernizing sewage treatment plants and restoring shell fishing in our local waters,” Suozzi said. “This $33 million, one of the largest single federal investments in environmental clean-up and restoration across Long Island and northeast Queens, will go a long way in restoring and improving the Long Island Sound for generations to come.”
Suozzi secured funding for these projects as part of the federal budget that was signed into law last month. This $33 million+ federal investment represents one the largest single federal investments for environmental clean-up and rehabilitation across Long Island and northeast Queens.
Suozzi was joined at the announcement by several elected officials and environmentalists.
