Suozzi Brings $33M In Environmental Funding

By Maureen Daly

Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) announced last week that he has helped secure over 33 million dollars in federal funding for environmental causes throughout Long Island's north shore.

Over $30 million of the $33 million is dedicated to restoring the Long Island Sound. This funding represents a 900 % increase in environmental funding since Suozzi took office in 2017.

Suozzi was able to secure the funding through community project funding which allows members of Congress to request funding to support specific community projects that will have the most real-life impacts in their districts. Five out of eight of Suozzi’s community projects include environmental clean up and restoration projects.

In addition to the $31 million dedicated to the Long Island Sound, Suozzi has secured over $2 million for other projects. A total of $300,000 will fund shellfish seeding in Hempstead Harbor, Oyster Bay and Huntington Harbors. And $600,000 will fund stormwater management in Little Neck Bay’s Alley Pond, Linnaeus Park and Udalls Cove.

$1 million was allocated to renovating North Hempstead Beach Park. A pump station in Glen Cove received $1 million for rehabilitation.

Approximately 10 million seed clams will be placed across the Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Huntington Harbors. These seed clams are expected to filter the water while also producing enough larvae for the future. The Little Neck Bay stormwater management will improve water quality across 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 cleanup 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.”