Congressmen Timothy Bishop (D-Southampton) and Peter King (R-Seaford) have introduced a plan to renew and expand the Long Island Sound Study, which aims to improve the health of the Long Island Sound.

Tens of millions of people live within a short drive of the Long Island Sound.Their proposal builds upon existing legislation that grants $40 million annually for Sound protection. The new legislation includes provisions for increased funding, an additional $125 million in 2011 with $250 million each year through 2015, for wastewater infrastructure repair, construction, and upgrades including stormwater systems and low-impact design technology and approaches.

The legislation also seeks to improve accountability by requiring a review of the Long Island Sound Study every two years to determine progress towards goal completion. The proposal furthermore extends the program to protect waters throughout the Sound's watershed, including areas of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire.

This bipartisan effort has received support from numerous legislators and environmental groups across the state. According to Long Island Business News, the proposal has already gained praise from Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine and Suffolk County Legislature Deputy Presiding Officer Vivian Viloria-Fisher.