[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 112 (Monday, July 8, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H4464-H4466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 LONG ISLAND SOUND RESTORATION AND STEWARDSHIP REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2023

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5441) to reauthorize Long Island Sound programs, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5441

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Long Island Sound 
     Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF LONG ISLAND SOUND PROGRAMS.

       (a) Long Island Sound Grants.--Section 119(h) of the 
     Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1269(h)) is 
     amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting 
     ``2024 through 2028''.
       (b) Long Island Sound Stewardship Grants.--Section 11(a) of 
     the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006 (33 U.S.C. 1269 
     note; Public Law 109-359) is amended, in the matter preceding 
     paragraph (1), by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and 
     inserting ``2024 through 2028''.
       (c) Technical Amendment.--Section 119(g) of the Federal 
     Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1269(g)) is amended by 
     redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Lee) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H.R. 5441, the bill now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arkansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5441, the Long Island Sound 
Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023.
  Representative LaLota's legislation reauthorizes programs that 
promote collaboration between Federal agencies, State and local 
governments, and other stakeholders to protect and preserve the Long 
Island Sound.
  H.R. 5441 reauthorizes the Long Island Sound Study through 2028 at 
current funding levels. The Long Island

[[Page H4465]]

Sound Study was created in 1985, and for several decades it has been 
instrumental in protecting the sound and its broader watershed. The 
Long Island Sound Study established the Comprehensive Conservation and 
Management Plan that focuses on habitat restoration, water quality 
monitoring, and sets ecosystem targets for the next 20 years.
  A component of the program also provides grants to local officials 
deploying restoration projects. The program has been responsible for 
the restoration of more than 2,000 acres of habitat.
  With 4 million people living in the sound's communities, and 9 
million in its watershed, protection of this resource helps to 
safeguard the region's economy and the environment.
  The Long Island Sound Study has been updated in recent decades to 
create more effective partnerships to manage the sound, to ensure that 
all stakeholders are at the table, and to provide resources to local 
officials carrying out projects.
  I thank Representative LaLota for his work on a bipartisan basis to 
reauthorize these important programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.

         Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of 
           Representatives,
                                    Washington, DC, June 21, 2024.
     Hon. Bruce Westerman,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Westerman: I am writing to you concerning 
     H.R. 5441, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship 
     Reauthorization Act of 2023. The bill was referred primarily 
     to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with 
     an additional referral to the Committee on Natural Resources. 
     Specifically, there are certain provisions of H.R. 5441 that 
     fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure.
       I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this 
     legislation before the House of Representatives in an 
     expeditious manner, and accordingly, agree the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure shall be discharged from 
     further consideration of the bill. However, this is 
     conditional on our mutual understanding that by foregoing 
     consideration of H.R. 5441 at this time, we do not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or 
     similar legislation that falls with the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure's Rule X jurisdiction, and 
     the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved on 
     this or similar legislation as it moves forward. Further, 
     this does not prejudice the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure with respect to the appointment of conferees 
     and should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would 
     appreciate your agreement to support my request to have the 
     Committee represented on the conference committee.
       Finally, I would ask that a copy of this letter and your 
     response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the 
     bill be included in the Committee Report and Congressional 
     Record during consideration of H.R. 5441 on the House floor.
           Sincerely,

                                                   Sam Graves,

                             Chairman, Committee on Transportation
     and Infrastructure.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Natural Resources,

                                    Washington, DC, June 21, 2024.
     Hon. Sam Graves,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Graves: I write regarding H.R. 5441, the 
     ``Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship 
     Reauthorization Act of 2023.'' The bill was referred 
     primarily to the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure, and additionally to the Committee on Natural 
     Resources, and was ordered reported by the Committee on 
     Natural Resources on June 12, 2024.
       I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall 
     within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure and appreciate your willingness to forgo 
     any further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will not 
     formally consider H.R. 5441 and agree that the inaction of 
     your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.
       I am pleased to support your request to name members of the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to any 
     conference committee to consider such provisions. I will 
     ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill 
     and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 
     5441. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this 
     legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Bruce Westerman,
                         Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.

  Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 5441 would reauthorize the Long Island Sound programs at the 
current funding level of $40 million annually through fiscal year 2028. 
These vital programs include the Long Island Sound Grants and the Long 
Island Sound Stewardship Grants.
  The Long Island Sound is a tidal estuary and marine sound, and it is 
a unique and irreplaceable natural resource. It stretches approximately 
110 miles across the north shore of Long Island and the coast of 
Connecticut.
  Its extensive watershed reaches into Connecticut, Massachusetts, 
Rhode Island, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Quebec.
  The sound was formed around 15,000 years ago when a terminal moraine 
dam failed, allowing freshwater from glacial Lake Connecticut to mix 
with the Atlantic Ocean. This newly formed estuary supported indigenous 
communities for over 11,000 years before European colonization.
  Today, the areas surrounding Long Island Sound are heavily developed, 
leading to significant degradation of its water quality and ecosystems 
due to pollution from industry, agriculture, sewage, and runoff.
  Despite this, the sound's unique hydrology and geology support 
diverse coastal ecosystems, including marshes, tidal pools, dunes, and 
eelgrass meadows.
  These habitats are home to abundant wildlife, including the 
endangered shortnose sturgeon. Protecting these ecosystems and species 
remains an ongoing and critical challenge that requires continuous 
support.
  The management of Long Island Sound falls to the States, not the 
Federal Government. In 1985, Congress established the Management 
Conference of the Long Island Sound Study to address significant 
environmental issues affecting the sound.
  This conference brings together the EPA, New York State, Connecticut, 
nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions to restore and 
protect the sound and its watershed.
  The conference oversees numerous initiatives, including monitoring 
and pollution control programs, grant coordination, public education, 
outreach, and policy development.
  Reauthorizing these programs through H.R. 5441 is essential for the 
sound's continued recovery and conservation. These efforts will help 
restore water quality, protect vital ecosystems, and ensure the sound 
remains a vibrant and healthy resource for future generations.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. LaLota).
  Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, for so many communities across Suffolk 
County and beyond, the Long Island Sound is so much more than a body of 
water. It is a way of life that has sustained and provided for our 
communities for generations. The Long Island Sound is a cornerstone of 
our environmental makeup, a driver of our local economy, and a hub of 
recreational and cultural activities for millions of people, Mr. 
Speaker.
  For decades, the sound has faced numerous environmental challenges, 
including pollution, habitat loss, and the impacts of a changing world. 
These challenges have threatened the health of the sound and the well-
being of the communities that rely on it.
  That is why it is incredibly important that, later today, we will be 
voting on and hopefully passing my legislation, the Long Island Sound 
Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023. This critical 
piece of legislation seeks to reauthorize vital programs that have been 
essential in preserving and restoring one of our Nation's most 
treasured natural resources, the Long Island Sound.
  My legislation addresses these challenges head-on by authorizing 
robust funding and strategic initiatives to improve water quality, 
restore habitats, and enhance the resilience of the

[[Page H4466]]

sound's ecosystems. This bill also reauthorizes crucial programs that 
have already made significant strides in reducing nitrogen pollution, 
protecting wetlands, and promoting sustainable development along the 
shoreline.
  This legislation is not only about environmental protection but 
investing in the future of our communities and the people who rely on 
the sound. By continuing to safeguard the sound, we are supporting the 
local economies that depend on tourism, fishing, and other maritime 
industries. We are also ensuring that future generations can enjoy the 
natural beauty and recreational opportunities that the sound offers.
  I thank my colleague from across the aisle and the sound, Congressman 
  Joe Courtney of Connecticut, members of the bipartisan Long Island 
Sound Caucus who have worked tirelessly on this legislation for more 
than a year, including my good friends Representatives D'Esposito and 
Garbarino, and Chairman Graves and Chairman Westerman, whose leadership 
was instrumental in getting this legislation to the floor. Our 
collective efforts reflect a shared commitment to the health and 
prosperity of the entire region.
  I also thank the various stakeholders, environmental organizations, 
and community leaders who all pitched in and who have tirelessly 
advocated for the protection and restoration of the sound, especially 
my friends at Save the Sound and Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
  Mr. Speaker, the Long Island Sound is an irreplaceable natural asset, 
and we have to protect it. This legislation provides the tools and 
resources necessary to continue the important work of restoring and 
preserving this vital ecosystem. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this bill and reaffirming our commitment to the Long Island 
Sound.
  Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. 
I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. D'Esposito).
  Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, as a son of a mariner and someone who 
has grown up on Long Island and in its waterways, I am proud to have 
cosponsored Congressman LaLota's legislation, H.R. 5441, the Long 
Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023.
  The bill reauthorizes Federal funding for the EPA to implement the 
Long Island Sound Conservation and Management Plan, as well as provide 
stewardship grants to New York State, municipal governments, and 
community stakeholder groups engaged in conservation activities around 
the sound.
  By passing this critical piece of legislation, we can work to ensure 
the Long Island Sound program is reauthorized at adequate funding 
levels and the sound's watershed and coastal habitats receive the 
attention they deserve. Not only will the program and grants provided 
help enhance the aesthetic beauty of the sound, but they will also help 
provide critical support for water-quality enhancement initiatives, 
which remain a key policy priority of mine.
  The Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act 
of 2023 represents the latest iteration of Long Island's commitment to 
preserving our local environment, which is a tradition that stretches 
back to President Theodore Roosevelt, who spent many years of his life 
advancing conservation initiatives.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the 
gentleman from New York.
  Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to support conservation 
efforts that benefit my constituents, New York at large, and this great 
Nation. I applaud Congressman LaLota for introducing this legislation, 
as it is critical to preserving the Long Island that we love and call 
home. I look forward to helping get this bill across the floor.
  Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, the management of the United States' 
natural resources requires effective coordination between all levels of 
government and local stakeholders. The legislation sponsored by 
Representative LaLota reauthorizes programs that support the health and 
well-being of the Long Island Sound.
  By reauthorizing these programs, we allow this critical work to 
continue, conserving an important resource that is vital for the 
region's economy and the environment.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5441.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________