© AJ Hand

Audubon Connecticut, Audubon New York and our National Policy Office in DC are working closely with lawmakers and other advocates to ensure successful reauthorization of the Long Island Sound Restoration Act (LISRA) and increased appropriation funding for both water quality and habitat restoration programs in the Sound.

Legislation reauthorizing LISRA, which provides operating funds for the EPA Office of Long Island Sound and for water quality efforts throughout the estuary - - up to $40 million each year - - has already been introduced in the Senate as S.3119. The proposed Senate legislation amends LISRA to include provisions of the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act (LISSA) that authorizes up to $25 million each year to protect, restore, and enhance important ecological, recreational, and public access sites around the Sound, a key request of Audubon and other advocates.

The House is finalizing its version of the bill and hopes to introduce it shortly. At current writing, the House version of the bill differs greatly from the Senate version, which could spell trouble for the reauthorization. House lawmakers have not included LISSA in their draft, but have included a number of ambitious proposals focusing on water quality regulation and enforcement throughout the entire Long Island Sound watershed. The House proposal would significantly increase funding for these programs, and includes support for green infrastructure and bioremediation efforts.

As co-chair of the Policy Committee of the Long Island Sound Study's Citizens Advisory Committee, Sandy Breslin has been leading review and advocacy efforts with Committee members and the general membership of the CAC.