# Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023

This bill reauthorizes and continues funding for the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Program, which is a federal effort to clean up and protect Long Island Sound—the body of water between Connecticut and New York that millions of people depend on for fishing, recreation, and drinking water. The program had been set to expire, so this bill extends it and keeps the money flowing for environmental cleanup and restoration work.

The bill funds various projects aimed at improving water quality in the Sound, restoring natural habitats like wetlands and seagrass beds, and removing pollution that has accumulated over decades. This includes work to reduce nitrogen and other nutrients that cause dead zones where fish can't survive, cleaning up contaminated sediment, and protecting coastal areas from erosion and storms. The program also supports research to better understand the Sound's environmental problems and track whether restoration efforts are actually working.

If you live near Long Island Sound or rely on it for food, recreation, or drinking water, this bill matters to you. Better water quality means safer swimming and fishing, healthier fish populations, and a more resilient coastline. The funding supports jobs in environmental cleanup and restoration work throughout Connecticut and New York. Even if you don't live right on the Sound, the program's success helps protect a major natural resource that supports the region's economy and provides important ecosystem services like filtering water and protecting against storms.

Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023

Gillibrand, Kirsten E.

Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023This bill reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency's Long Island Sound programs through FY2028. The programs, which include&nbsp;a stewardship grant program, focus on conserving and restoring the estuary off the coast of New York and Connecticut.