I first put down roots in Suffolk County after meeting my wife Lisa in the early 1990s. We are so fortunate to live in a wooded paradise, surrounded by beautiful beaches and preserves - the economic lifeline of the North Fork, South Fork, and Brookhaven communities. Unfortunately, these great treasures are threatened by our changing environment, and we must take steps to protect them if we want to share our county's beauty with future generations.
Our district has two urgent environmental concerns that we must address. First, coastal beach erosion, as a result of rising sea levels, is already damaging homes and businesses. We must not only take steps to mitigate our changing climate, but also work with coastal residents and businesses on ways to build resilient infrastructure and strengthen their livelihoods. Global warming is real and we feel the results quite directly here on Long Island. By pulling out of the Paris Agreement, Donald Trump, with Lee Zeldin's support, is taking us in the wrong direction.
Second, we must protect our water supply by ensuring that our nitrate waste is properly treated so we don't pollute our bodies of water. There are three layers of the aquifer, the first is polluted, the second is getting polluted, and the third is a reserve we don't want to touch. Waste management and sewers are a serious issue in Suffolk County that requires cooperation from local, state, and federal governments. If we allow too much nitrate into the ground, we destroy the ecosystems we all rely on. The protection of Long Island's waters is essential to both our economy and quality of life.
Environmental issues affect the entire region, from Brookhaven to Montauk and all parts in between. As Congressman, I'll fight to ensure protecting our environment is a top federal priority. Suffolk County needs good jobs, but without a healthy environment, those jobs will not be there.