Investing in A New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Moving Forward Act, expertly led by Chairman DeFazio.

This transformative $1.5 trillion infrastructure investment, the largest in our Nation's history, would not only help rebuild America's decaying infrastructure, not only stimulate our post-coronavirus economy, not only create solid middle class jobs, hopefully many of them union jobs, but will also make the most significant investment in protecting our environment in a generation.

Investments here will combat climate change, improve the resiliency of our shorelines, improve water quality for many American communities, and much, much more.

This bill also includes a provision of mine, which incentivizes homeowners in my district, and throughout the Nation, to upgrade their antiquated septic systems by reversing a wrong-headed IRS decision that requires homeowners to pay income taxes on septic system improvement grants that they receive from local governments, such as Suffolk County in my district.

Admittedly, this is not a high-profile provision, but it will help homeowners financially and dramatically improve our environment by reducing the devastating impacts of nitrogen pollution.

Over the past 25 years, as a former mayor, county executive, and now a Member of this body, I have seen firsthand how reducing nitrogen has helped revitalize the Long Island Sound, our national park. This can happen up and down the coast of America.

Investments like these are critical pieces in a comprehensive approach we must take to preserve and protect our environment. I encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

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