On Friday, Congressman Tom Suozzi hosted "Orchestrating Both Coasts For A Better Sound 2.0" -- a major gathering of local, state and national leaders where the health and future of the Long Island Sound was discussed. Suozzi, who serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Long Island Sound Caucus, was joined by fellow co-chairs Rep. Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-3). Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy was also in attendance, along with several local elected officials and environmental stakeholders.
20 years ago, then Glen Cove Mayor Tom Suozzi and Stanford Mayor Dannel Malloy, hosted their first "Orchestrating Both Coasts for a Better Sound." Friday's meeting focused on the progress made over the past 20 years and the vision for the Long Island Sound's future.
Stakeholders in attendance reviewed policies that have worked in helping to protect the Sound and examined the threats it faces and developed a plan of action. They discussed the progress made in reducing nitrogen levels in the Long Island Sound. Attendees then signed a pledge to continue their work to protect the Sound for years to come.
"We confirmed today that climate change is not only a challenge to the Earth, but to the Long Island Sound. Water temperatures continue to warm and our shorelines will be impacted by rising sea levels. We've made a lot of progress over the last 20 years in reducing nitrogen levels by 55 percent. However, our work is far from done. We must continue to build on this progress to preserve the Sound -- our "national park' -- for future generations. That requires more bipartisan collaboration like we had today, and I look forward to continuing working with my colleagues on the Long Island Sound Caucus and other stakeholders to seeing this through," said Congressman Suozzi.
Congressman Zeldin said, "The Long Island Sound is a precious feature of our life, culture and economy. Over the years, the Long Island Sound has suffered from pollution, overdevelopment and other negative impacts. There has been a lot of progress made, but there is still much more that must be done to protect this critical waterway. Today's conference with my fellow co-Chairs of the Long Island Sound Caucus, Reps. Suozzi and DeLauro, brought local, state and national leaders and environmental stakeholders together to discuss the work ahead. I look forward to continuing this progress in Congress on a bipartisan basis to ensure the Long Island Sound is preserved for generations to come."
"As co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, I know first-hand how crucial the Sound is to Connecticut's economy, as well as its environmental importance as a vibrant ecosystem right here in our backyard," said DeLauro. "That is why it is so critical we remain careful stewards of the Sound by advocating to protect and restore it. Our progress over the last few decades would not have been possible without the tireless work of local advocates, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the bipartisan cooperation present in the Long Island Sound Caucus. Still, there is more work to be done, and I will continue to fight in Congress to ensure we keep our national treasure protected."
"Long Island Sound is a vital resource for the region's ecology, economy, culture, quality of life, and national security interests. We must ensure that human uses and ecosystems are managed properly using sound scientific data and information. Gathering such as this allow leaders, advocates and other stakeholders to share information as we work together to ensure that the Sound is protected for future generations," said Governor Malloy.
"Today was a terrific event that re-energized federal, state and local governments to work with scientists and stakeholders to address the challenges of the next decade. We want to thank our congressional leaders -- Representatives Suozzi, Zeldin and DeLauro -- for their work and dedication to protecting the Long Island Sound," said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.