Today, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) released the following statement after helping to pass legislation to fund the federal government, which included major policy wins and over $150 million in direct federal funding for projects and programs in Suffolk County.

“I am proud to have secured millions to support the people of Suffolk County and serious policy wins to support our nation’s security. Brookhaven National Lab, the Long Island Sound Program, the National Estuary Program, the Sea Grant Program, Sag Harbor Village, the Towns of Brookhaven, Huntington, Riverhead, Shelter Island, and Smithtown are just a few programs and places I fought to ensure were funded to benefit our communities,” said LaLota. “My guiding light in Congress is to help Suffolk County be a better and more affordable place to live, work and raise a family.  To that end, I will always fight to ensure Suffolk County gets our fair share of federal funding.”

To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.

To read a full list of the over $150 million funding directly benefiting Suffolk County, click HERE.

To read a full list of funding that will impact Suffolk County, click HERE.

To read a full list of policy wins, click HERE.

Background:

In November, LaLota prevented draconian cuts to Amtrak funding, specifically in the Northeast Corridor, which were included in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill, by bucking his own party and blocking the bill from being voted upon.

Last year, LaLota blocked consideration of the Agriculture Appropriations bill due to a proposed ban on mail delivery of mifepristone and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Shortly after coming into office, LaLota began working with local officials in Suffolk County to submit Community Funding Projects for consideration by the Appropriations Committee. After careful and diligent vetting the Appropriations Committee approved requests for consideration in the final funding bills. LaLota was successful in securing funding for projects being facilitated by Suffolk County, as well as projects in each of New York’s First Congressional District’s Townships, which includes the Towns of Huntington, Brookhaven, Smithtown, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, Shelter Island, and East Hampton. LaLota worked with colleagues and staff to ensure Suffolk County received as much federal funding as possible in the form of direct appropriations, grants, and other programs.