CongressmanTom Suozzi(D-Glen Cove), who announced at a Sea Cliff Municipal Beach press conference on April 21st that his office has contributed more than $33M in federal funding to environmental cleanup projects on Long Island and northeast Queens.
Out of the $33 Million, $31 Million was dedicated to restoringLong Island SoundThis represents a 900% increase in his term as Congressman since 2017. The announcement was made just one day before Earth Day.
Suozzi said that he was able, through community project financing, to dedicate so much of his time and money to improving Long Island’s and Queens’s environmental conditions. This funding allows Congress members to request funding for specific community projects that will have the greatest impact on their respective districts. Five of his eight community initiatives were dedicated to environmental cleanup and restoration.
Suozzi also contributed $31 million to Long Island Sound Restoration. The $2 million-to-3 million remaining has been distributed across several other projects.
The shellfish seeding of Oyster Bay, Huntington Harbors, Hempstead and Oyster Bay has received $300,000 funding. Stormwater management at Little Neck Bays Alley Ponds, Linnaeus Park, and Udalls Cove has received $600,000.
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 will strategically be placed across Oyster Bay, Huntington Harbors. They are expected to filter the water there and also produce enough larvae for future expansion. The Little Neck Bay stormwater management system will be used for improving water quality in Alley Pond, Linnaeus Park, and Udalls Cove.
Suozzi stated that I have dedicated a substantial portion of my 25-year tenure in public service to cleaning up pollution, reducing nitrogen levels, modernizing sewage treatment plant facilities, and restoring shellfishing in our local waters. This $33 million federal investment, which is one of the largest in environmental cleanup and restoration on Long Island and northeast Queens, will help to restore and improve the Long Island Sound for future generations.
Suozzi secured funding for these projects as part of the federal budget that was signed into law last month. This investment of more than $33million is one of the largest federal investments in environmental cleanups and restorations on Long Island and northeast Queens.
Suozzi was joined at the announcement by several elected officials and environmentalists.
This story was first published on QNS.com.
