Protecting our Environment and Natural Resources

"As an elected Representative, a lifelong resident of Queens, and as the father of three young children, I am committed to protecting the land we inhabit, the air we breathe and the water we drink. America has made amazing progress in protection and conservation over the last 30 years and we must continue to protect the natural resources of our great nation. Perhaps more than anyone else, we New Yorkers, used to daily city life, appreciate that the true jewels of America are our natural parks, and other Federally owned lands unspoiled by development. During my time in Congress, I have fought to protect our open spaces from the dangers of drilling, pollution, and development"

Preserving our Wilderness

• Strongly opposes legislation to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).


• Original cosponsor of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge bill (H.R. 567), a bipartisan bill to assure that no oil or gas exploration or drilling will occur in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.


• Voted against legislation to allow for more offshore coastal drilling leases, meaning more anti-environmental oil and gas drilling.


• Cosponsor of the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act (HR 3563), a bill to codify the Forest Service's Roadless Area Conservation Rule to protect our Federal lands from over development.


• Secured $23 million in Federal funding for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to help fight the vicious tree-eating Asian Longhorned Beetle that has destroyed over 4,000 trees in New York City.

Fighting for Clean Air

• Cosponsor of the Clean Smokestacks Act (H.R. 1451) to update current national power plant emissions standards, and extend them to cover all plants throughout the United States, including old plants in Queens and the Bronx.


• Working to reduce air pollution issues from LaGuardia, improving the air quality for the people of Queens and the Bronx who suffer from the environmental effects of having an airport in their backyard.


• Introduced legislation establishing an incentive program for airport authorities to phase in natural gas buses to replace the current high emission buses.


• Announced $2 million in Federal funding to replace six diesel-burning MTA buses with high-tech, low-polluting buses that help reduce dangerous emissions.


• Supporter of legislation to reduce harmful greenhouse gases that cause global warming.

Protecting our Water Quality

• Co-author and supporter of the Clean Water Restoration Act (HR 1356) to reinstate Clean Water Act protections for "isolated" wetlands.


• Successfully secured $6.2 million in the 2005 Federal budget for the purpose of improving water quality.


• Member of the Long Island Sound Caucus, fighting for legislation to clean up the Sound and maintain the environmental standards that protect America's coastlines.


• Supporter of legislation to severely limit the acceptable levels of arsenic and other pollutants in the water supply.


• Secured millions of dollars in Federal funds to complete a feasibility study of dredging to clean up Flushing Bay and Creek and begin operations to improve the water quality.


• Working to clean up the Bronx River and create a green way to improve the urban environment of the Bronx and the quality of life of its residents.