Reps. Courtney and LaLota Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect the Long Island Sound
NORWICH, CT - Last week, Reps. Joe Courtney (CT-03) and Nick LaLota (NY-01) , Co-Chairs of the Long Island Sound Caucus, introduced the bipartisan Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act, which would reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program through 2028 to ensure the protection and preservation of the Sound.
This is the House companion to legislation introduced by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
“The Long Island Sound is a unique ecological resource for eastern Connecticut and is home to a vast array of economic activities in our region. This legislation reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Long Island Sound Program which will ensure the Sound remains a valuable resource for generations to come,” said Courtney. “Last year our region secured an historic new investment for the Long Island Sound from the federal Infrastructure Law and the FY23 government spending package. Reauthorizing the Long Island Sound Program ensures Congress can continue to invest in the preservation and protection of this special region.”
“As the Co-Chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, I am proud to introduce the Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. The Long Island Sound is not just a body of water; it's a way of life for our community,” said LaLota. “This legislation underscores the vital importance of preserving this natural treasure, not only for our environment but for the thriving fishing industry that sustains Long Island's economy. Together, we can ensure the continued health and prosperity of Long Island Sound, a resource that defines our region and sustains our livelihoods.”
Congressman Courtney has worked to conserve and protect waterways and natural heritage areas in eastern Connecticut and the region throughout his career. In 2007, the House voted to pass Courtney’s legislation to secure Wild and Scenic protections for Eightmile River, which is an integral part of the Long Island Sound Watershed. It was the first bill he introduced upon being elected to Congress.
More recently, Courtney has helped secure new protections and federal funding to help conserve eastern Connecticut’s natural heritage for generations to come. For example, in the 2023 federal budget passed in December 2022, Courtney voted to secure $40 million for the Long Island Sound Geographic Program—an increase of $8 million over the previous year’s funding levels.
In 2019, President Donald Trump signed into law a public lands package that included the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Wild and Scenic River Act—a bill Courtney helped introduce that designates several waterways within the 300-square mile watershed as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Courtney’s bill officially made the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed eligible for federal funding through the National Park Service’s (NPS) Wild and Scenic Rivers Program to carry out preservation, conservation, and environmental stewardship activities. The 2023 federal budget also included $5.3 million for NPS’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Program.
To read the full text of the Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act, click HERE.