Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County), released the following statement after he introduced the bipartisan Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act with Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT), the Mobile Post Office Relief Act, and a Resolution expressing opposition to the Central Business District Tolling Program of New York City with Representatives Andrew Garbarino (R-Suffolk County), Mike Lawler (R-Westchester), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island).

“Long Island deserves strong support from Washington, and I am proud to have introduced three critical bills to address pressing issues affecting our communities. In this new Congress, I remain focused on advancing common-sense solutions that safeguard Long Island’s future and enhance our quality of life,” said LaLota. “My bipartisan Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act reauthorizes vital programs to preserve and protect our coastlines, ensuring the Sound remains a cherished resource for generations. The Mobile Post Office Relief Act demands accountability for the closure of the Sound Beach Post Office and reaffirms the Postal Service's responsibility to provide timely mail delivery and exceptional customer service. Finally, my Resolution expressing opposition to the Central Business District Tolling Program of New York City defends hardworking suburban commuters from Governor Hochul’s unfair and burdensome commuter tax when traveling to and from lower Manhattan.”

To read the full text of the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act, click HERE.

To read the full text of the Mobile Post Office Relief Act, click HERE. 

To read the full text of the Resolution expressing opposition to the Central Business District Tolling Program of New York City, click HERE. 

Background:

Last Congress, LaLota introduced the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act in partnership with his Long Island Sound Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and the bill passed the House with bipartisan support in July 2024.   

The Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act would reauthorize Long Island Sound restoration programs through 2029. In 1985, Congress created the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) to identify and address the major environmental problems affecting the Long Island Sound. The LISS brings together the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New York State, Connecticut, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to help restore and protect the Long Island Sound, including the watershed, which spans up towards New Hampshire and Vermont into Canada.

LaLota secured $40 million in federal funding for the Long Island Sound Program. This funding for the Sound is provided by the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill LaLota helped pass which was signed into law in March.

In January 2024, LaLota testified at a Natural Resources Committee hearing in support of his Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Reauthorization Act. That same month, LaLota testified at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in support of reauthorizing the Long Island Sound grant programs via the biannual Water Resources Development Act.

Rep. LaLota also led the charge to provide relief to residents of Sound Beach, who have been without local postal services for nine months, by introducing the Mobile Post Office Relief Act last Congress. The Mobile Post Office Relief Act would require the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide a mobile retail unit to provide retail postal services, including Post Office (PO) Box services, to an area when the post office is temporarily closed. The Mobile Post Office Relief Act would provide a meaningful solution to the lack of action by the USPS in restoring Post Offices across the United States which have been closed for excessive amounts of time.

On May 26, 2023, residents of Sound Beach, NY were informed by the U.S. Postal Service that their post office location would temporarily close. LaLota sent several letters to the USPS Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, to request an immediate, temporary postal service solution to the closure. In December of 2023, LaLota introduced the Mobile Post Office Relief Act to the House of Representatives. To this day, the Sound Beach Post Office remains closed. The USPS has not provided updates or timelines for reopening. 

Former Congressman Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY-4) introduced the Resolution expressing opposition to the Central Business District Tolling Program of New York City last Congress, at which time Congressman LaLota was a cosponsor.

The Resolution expressing opposition to the Central Business District Tolling Program of New York City underscores the need for equitable and sustainable transportation policies in urban areas across the United States. This resolution disapproves of the Central Business District Tolling Program of New York City and strongly recommends New York conduct an economic impact report on the program and that relevant federal agencies and New York halt the program's implementation. The commuter tax tolling program charges drivers that enter the area designated as Manhattan's Central Business District.