The Long Island Sound needs our support, and we need the Long Island Sound to thrive. At a time when environmental protections are under attack, we must be especially conscious of our responsibility to protect the Sound.
I see the value of the Sound every day and in many different places. Recently, I visited two thriving shellfish businesses in Norwalk and toured the renovated lighthouse at Sheffield Island. In addition to the pure joy the water brings us, it gives strength to our local economy. As we work to preserve the Sound’s natural beauty, we must also restore its role as a working waterway—we cannot underestimate the value of a deepwater port in Bridgeport.
More importantly, protecting our environment is personal for me. As a long time clam fisherman, biker, rower, and overall outdoor enthusiast, I understand first-hand the need to preserve and protect the water and land we love. As the father of two young girls, I think every day about the planet we will leave for them and their children. I want them to enjoy the same lifelong love of the great outdoors that I have, and I want them to have clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.
Together, we can protect the long-term vitality of the Sound and ensure that it remains healthy and vibrant for generations to come. The Connecticut Fund for the Environment has made preservation of the Sound a priority, and I look forward to continuing our work together as we move forward with plans to restore the health and beauty of this regional treasure.
Congressman Jim Himes represents Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District.