Appropriate: $40 Million CO-SPONSOR · John Lagomarcino 1301 K Street, NW, 8th Floor East...
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AUDUBON NEW YORK ALBANY, NEW YORK (518) 869-9731 CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK (914) 631-6070 SPRING 2006 The Long Island Sound Restoration Act Appropriate: $40 Million FUND Clean Water Jobs Coalition STRENGTHENING OUR FEDERAL FUNDING COMMITMENT TO CLEAN WATER AND JOBS FUND HR307/S158 CO-SPONSOR CO-SPONSOR The Long Island Sound Stewardship Act
Transcript of Appropriate: $40 Million CO-SPONSOR · John Lagomarcino 1301 K Street, NW, 8th Floor East...
AUDUBON NEW YORKALBANY, NEW YORK
(518) 869-9731
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COUNCILTARRYTOWN, NEW YORK
(914) 631-6070
SPRING 2006
The Long Island Sound Restoration Act Appropriate: $40 Million
FUND
CleanWater
JobsCoalition
STRENGTHENING OUR FEDERAL FUNDING COMMITMENTTO CLEAN WATER AND JOBS
FUND
HR307/S158
CO-SPONSORCO-SPONSORThe Long Island SoundStewardship Act
A growing coalition of construction contractors, labor unions and conserva-tionists seek appropriations under theLong Island Sound Restoration Act forthe clean up of Long Island Sound.
The group called the Clean Water JobsCoalition believes this investment willspur immediate employment through construction activities at pollution control facilities, thereby creating jobsand strengthening the long-term economy of the region.
The Clean Water Jobs Coalition voiced its unanimous support for the legislationthat targets pollution control and cleanup of the Long Island Sound. Congressenacted the Long Island Sound RestorationAct in 2000 and reauthorized it through2010 in 2005.
We have shown through our coalitionthat the priority of clean water bringstogether jobs and the environment,”said Executive Director David J. Miller ofAudubon New York. “We’re convincedthat the time is right to fully fund theRestoration Act which will have the combined effects of making our environment cleaner and safer as well as stimulating the economy to createnew jobs.”
The Long Island Sound is an estuary ofnational significance, and Congressshould play a role to financially supportthe long-term restoration of this preciousecosystem. Some 10 percent of the U.S. population, or 28 million people, live within 50 miles of the Sound.
Because of the unique geography and thesignificance of our national estuaries, the federal government must contribute anequitable share of the clean-up costs,”
said Ross J. Pepe, President of theConstruction Industry Council ofWestchester and Hudson Valley, Inc. aregional association of contractors, suppliers and service companies. Local and state governments have madeenormous investments in sewage treatmentand pollution control facilities, but theproblems are much more regional in scopeand therefore call for federal involvement.Any plan that places the entire fiscal burden of clean-up on the most vulnerablelevel of government — local authorities— is destined for environmental and economic failure,” Mr. Pepe said.
Full funding also promises to stimulatejobs and strengthen local economies.Coalition members told lawmakers thataccording to a national study, every $1 billion spent in sewage treatment plant upgrades will result in 57,000 new construction jobs. “The old adage, jobs versus the environment’ is passé,”said Jim Melius, from the New York StateLaborers’-Employers’ Cooperation andEducational Trust. “Environmentalistsand construction industry officials realizethat by working together, jobs, sustainabledevelopment and a clean environment area reality. Investment in water pollutioncontrol will increase the rate of return onprivate capital, increase the growth rateof labor productivity, boost private plantand equipment investment and expandthe tax base.”
Long Island Sound Restoration Act Coalition presses for funds to clean water, create jobs
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While the Long Island Sound RestorationAct authorizes funds to address waterquality issues in the Sound, such as nitrogen loading and hypoxia, the LongIsland Sound Stewardship Act wouldauthorize funding for those areas wherethe land meets the sea.
The bill would authorize $25 million annually through 2013 to protect openspace, recreational areas and importantecological sites. A major goal of the measure would be to establish greaterpublic access to this remarkable natural resource.
Initially introduced in 2004, the StewardshipAct enjoys strong bi-state, bi-cameral and bi-partisan support. Indeed, it passedthe Senate by unanimous consent inOctober, 2004. It was reintroduced in bothhouses in January, 2005 and numerousmeetings and briefings were held with the
New York and Connecticut CongressionalDelegations, and with the House ResourceCommittee during the first half of the year.In June, the House Sub-Committee onOceans and Fisheries held a field hearingin Groton, Connecticut.
The Act has received strong publicsupport and its passage will allow thefederal government to join with thestates and their municipalities in furtherprotecting this nationally significantestuary,” said John Atkin, Vice Presidentand Connecticut Director of the RegionalPlan Association.
The Clean Water/Jobs Coalition askseach member of the New York andConnecticut Congressional Delegations tonot only co-sponsor the bill, but to act aschampions for its passage by urging theircolleagues from around the nation tosupport their efforts.
Long Island Sound Stewardship Act(HR307/S158)
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Audubon New YorkDavid J. Miller, Executive Director200 Trillium LaneAlbany, NY 12203(518) [email protected]
Audubon ConnecticutThomas Baptist, Executive Director 185 East Flat Hill RoadSouthbury, CT 06488(203) [email protected]
Long Island Sound Study CitizenAdvisory CommitteeNancy Seligson, NY Co-ChairLarchmont, NY 10538(914) [email protected]
Regional Plan AssociationJohn Atkin, Vice President and Connecticut DirectorTwo Landmark Square, Suite 108 Stamford, CT 06901 (203) 356-0390 [email protected]
Citizens Campaign for the EnvironmentAdrienne Esposito, Executive Director225 A Main Street, Suite 2Farmingdale, NY 11735 (516) [email protected]
New York League of Conservation VotersMarcia Bystryn, Executive Director29 Broadway, Suite 1100New York, NY 10006(212) [email protected]
Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley, Inc.Ross J. Pepe, President629 Old White Plains RoadTarrytown, NY 10591(914) [email protected]
New York State Laborers’-Employers’Cooperation and Educational TrustJames Melius, MD, Dr. PH18 Corporate Woods Blvd.Albany, NY 12211(518) [email protected]
General Contractors Association of NY, Inc.Christopher Ward, Managing Director60 East 42nd Street, Suite 3510New York, NY 10165(212) 687-3131
Long Island Contractors AssociationRobert F. Carlino, Executive Director2905 Veterans Memorial HighwayRonkonkoma, NY 11779(631) 467-4230
Connecticut Laborers’ Union District CouncilCharlie LeConche, Business Manager475 Ledyard Street Hartford, CT 06114 (860) 296-9621
The Carmen GroupJohn Lagomarcino1301 K Street, NW, 8th Floor EastWashington, DC 20005(202) [email protected]
� Be a champion for the Long Island Sound Restoration Act
� Co-sponsor and enthusiastically support the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act (HR 307/S158)
Clean Water/Jobs Steering Committee
THE CLEAN WATER JOBS COALITION CALLS ON CONGRESS TO CONTINUE ITS SUPPORTFOR THE CLEAN UP OF LONG ISLAND SOUND.
CongressionalCall to Action
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