releases: https://zeldin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-new-covid-19-relief-and-annual-appropriations-bill-contains-key
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://zeldin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-new-covid-19-relief-and-annual-appropriations-bill-contains-key | Congress New COVID-19 Relief and Annual Appropriations Bill Contains Key Local Wins for NY-1 | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | NY | Lee Zeldin | Z000017 | zeldin.house.gov | legacy | Op-ed by Congressman Lee Zeldin Throughout December, as Congress' new COVID-19 relief and annual appropriations legislation was being negotiated, I worked closely with House and Senate leadership, and the White House and other officials in the Administration, to secure important local prioritiesforLong Island to save Plum Island and multiple local sewer projects, as well as advance six Army Corps of Engineers projects located in our Congressional District. I secured long awaited historic language to permanently repeal the federal law to sell Plum Island to the highest bidder. Senator Ron Johnson (R, WI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, had opposed reversing this federal law due to long standing opposition by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As Congressional funding was being negotiated, I worked closely with Senator Johnson and White House and DHS leadership to successfully advocatefortheir assistance to remove the opposition and get this extremely high priority over the finish lineforthe First Congressional District of New York. I also worked with Senator Schumer who played an important role as well to support this effort. Not only does Plum Island offer diverse wildlife, a precious ecosystem and critical habitatformigratory birds, marine mammals, and rare plants, but it is an essential cultural and historical resource as well. The current law, which mandates the sale of the island to the highest bidder, is the wrong pathforward. It's an honor to deliver this huge win that will reverse that law and help preserve Plum Island's rich history and tap into its limitless potentialforgenerations to come. Additionally, I saved three local sewer projects, Carlls River, Patchogue River andForge River, by securing an extension of the deadline to use Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funding.The coronavirus outbreak has impacted so many aspects of our way of life, and our response must include saving local infrastructure projects that have experienced unexpected delays as a result of the pandemic. These local projects are critical to our quality of life in Suffolk County, and I'm honored to deliver this huge win to ensure these projects get across the finish line. Also in the upcoming Congressional spending bill is authorizationforsix NY-1 coastal infrastructure priorities, including the Fire Island to Montauk Point (FIMP) Project, which is an over $1 billion project that includes fundingforessential dredging and shoreline projects spanning 83 miles of coastline, 80% of which is in the First Congressional District. It includes a variety of coastal and wetland restoration projects that will use the natural environment to reduce flooding, erosion, and storm damage, while also preserving the natural environment and habitatforwildlife and provides various coastal management initiativesforthe bay side of the barrier beaches. Also included is Coastal Storm Risk ManagementforHashamomuck Cove in Southold, where right now local residents, businesses and first responders are paralyzed during even a severe thunderstorm. Additionally, this legislation authorizes a feasibility studyfora project at Wading River Creek in Riverhead and expedites feasibility studiesforprojects at Reel Point Preserve in Shelter Island, Goldsmith Inlet in Southold, and Lake Montauk Harbor in Montauk. All of these important local victories come on top of additional coronavirus relief to assist struggling small businesses, individuals and families, and schools, while ramping up vaccine distribution to help us get back to our way of life. The progress included in this new Congressional legislation is critical to Long Islanders' way of life, and it's an honor to have delivered these vital winsforour community. I lookforward to continuing to fightforthe priorities most important to our communities. Congressman Lee Zeldin represents New York's First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |