Rep. Zeldin, Local Advocates Discuss Efforts to Preserve Plum Island

WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, July 22, 2020, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), Co-Chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, joined Senate colleagues, local elected officials, The Nature Conservancy, Save the Sound, Peconic Land Trust and other advocates to urge the preservation of Plum Island.

In 2008, Congress created a new law to mandate the sale of Plum Island to the highest bidder. Since coming to Congress, Congressman Zeldin has secured House passage of 5 of his proposals to preserve Plum Island as a world-renowned research facility, historical site and conservation area, and secured $1.5 million in federal funds last summer to stabilize and restore its iconic lighthouse. 

Last year, Congressman Zeldin authored and secured enactment of legislative language to halt the sale of the island for Fiscal Year 2020. Additionally, this Congress, he introduced the Plum Island Preservation Act of 2019, which would permanently repeal the law mandating the sale of Plum Island and require any further use of the island be for conservation, education and/or research purposes.

“Not only does Plum Island offer Long Island a diverse wildlife and ecosystem and critical habitat for migratory birds, marine mammals, and rare plants, but it is also an essential cultural and historical resource,” said Congressman Zeldin. “The current law, which mandates the sale of the island to the highest bidder, is the wrong path forward, because it does not provide for public access and permanent preservation of the island, or the continued use of the research infrastructure. The state-of-the-art research facility at Plum Island must not go to waste, and preserving this island’s natural beauty while maintaining a research mission will continue to provide important economic and environmental benefits to Long Island. I'm honored to fight alongside my colleagues in a bicameral, bipartisan fashion to build on short term victories and permanently protect the island.”