Water, Water Everywhere. . .

But Is It Safe To Drink, Fish, Swim In?

Our good friends at Citizens Campaign for the Environment urge you to join them to protect our waterways.

Help Protect Our Great Waters

Call Congress Today!

Take Action Now

The health of the nation’s Great Waters must be a national priority. Our Great Waters, including Long Island Sound and the Great Lakes, are essential to our economy, recreational opportunities, and quality of life. Unfortunately, our Great Waters are threatened by pollution, invasive species, and habitat destruction. Action must be taken before the problems get worse and the solutions more costly. Congress needs to protect, preserve, and restore our Great Waters now!

Long Island Sound: An Estuary of National Significance, the Long Island Sound is an immensely valuable estuary, contributing more than $8 billion annually to the regional economy. Twenty million people live within 50 miles of the Sound’s beaches. Residents of New York and Connecticut depend on the Sound for recreational opportunities, including fishing, sailing, and swimming. The Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act will expire this year unless Congress reauthorizes the legislation. Congress needs to move quickly to reauthorize the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act (H.R. 5876/S. 3119) to continue progress on restoring the Long Island Sound. This critical investment will restore shellfish, upgrade sewage treatment plants, protect sensitive lands, replant sea grass beds, control polluted storm water runoff, and conduct needed research.

Great Lakes: The Great Lakes are a natural wonder of the world that holds one-fifth of the world’s fresh water supply. The Great Lakes supply millions of New Yorkers with their drinking water, provide habitat for wildlife, and support billion dollar industries such as tourism and fishing. The Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act (H.R. 4755/S. 3073) will provide the long-term structure needed for Great Lakes protection and restoration. The bill authorizes $650 million annually to address the most critical issues impacting the lakes, including cleaning up toxic hot spots, restoring habitat, fighting invasive species, and preventing pollution.

How you can help:

Call your two U.S. senators and your representative in the House and urge them to protect our Great Waters, including Long Island Sound and the Great Lakes. Your calls are critical, and they only take a moment!

Tips for Calling:
Make three quick calls to the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Ask to be connected to the offices of your U.S. senators and U.S. representative. Once connected:

•Tell the person who answers the phone your name and your address.
•Share why protecting Long Island Sound and the Great Lakes is important to you.
•Urge Congress to pass the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act (H.R. 5876/S. 3119).
•Urge them to support passage of the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act (H.R. 4755/S. 3073).
•Thank them for their consideration.

Whom to call:

In New York:
House: Find your federal representative
Senate: Senator Schumer & Senator Gillibrand

In Connecticut:
House: Find your federal representative
Senate: Senator Lieberman & Senator Dodd

Thank you for taking action. Together we make a difference!