Long Beach, NY — Long Islanders rallied Tuesday in Long Beach to protest Rep. Anthony D’Esposito’s vote last week to gut community water funding, as Long Island communities struggle to fund treatment facilities to remove PFAS- and 1,4 dioxane chemicals from drinking water; and experience another summer of regular beach closures due to water contamination.

Last Wednesday, the House voted to approve an appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2025 that includes a 25 percent funding cut to the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds, the main source of federal funding for our nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems — bringing federal water assistance to the lowest funding levels in more than 15 years.

Food & Water Watch volunteer leader Margaret Maher said: “New Yorkers’ right to safe, affordable water is inalienable — and under threat. Yet while Long Islanders struggle with unsafe drinking water and contaminated beaches, Rep. D’Esposito is voting to make it worse. D’Esposito and Congress must drop the politicking and pass the WATER Act (HR 1729, S 938), establishing a permanent trust to safeguard essential federal water funding from these foolishly partisan annual appropriations battles.”

These cuts cripple efforts to address our nation’s critical water and wastewater needs, undermining goals to replace lead pipes, remove toxic PFAS from drinking water, and prevent beach closures. According to EPA surveys, New York water and sewer systems need around $90 billion over the next 20 years just to comply with existing federal water quality standards; its wastewater and stormwater systems need $54 billion alone – almost $2,700 per person.

At the rally, groups also criticized D’Esposito’s requested water earmarks, all of which benefit majority-white wealthy communities. In contrast, D’Esposito did not request water funding for the village of Hempstead, a majority-people of color community with a 16% poverty rate that needs to build a $55 million-treatment facility to remove toxic 1,4-dioxane and PFAS from drinking water.

“We all need access to clean, safe water. Denying us the ability to ensure our families are not exposed to contaminated water should be a crime. Toxic cancer causing chemicals like PFAS have been found in our drinking water here on Long Island, especially in underserved communities like the village of Hempstead. Instead of protecting these families by making sure funding was provided to clean up these toxins, Representative Anthony D’Esposito has chosen to ignore our need for clean safe water. By voting to cut funding for the EPA, his actions are harmful toward the health and safety of our communities. We can all have clean water when we have Representatives that are willing to make sure we do,” said Kaneita Marcelin from the Long Island Progressive Coalition.

“Congressman D’Esposito represents a district on the south shore plagued by contaminated water, tens of thousands of lead pipes, and a coastline at risk of extreme weather events,” stated LI CAWS Director Dave Denenberg. “The Congressman’s failure to allocate funds to protect his district’s water, combined with his vote to decrease funding for clean-ups and future storm mitigation, is grossly negligent. It suggests a preliminary step towards the total dismantling of EPA protections, as outlined in Project 2025.”

“We are a hard-working family that pays taxes and would love to continue building our lives in Nassau, but it’s impossible to do so if the living conditions continue to deteriorate,” said Yessenia Perez, a member of Make the Road Action. “It’s unfair that in my home the water comes out murky every time it rains or there is a storm, or when I go to my job in Freeport and there are puddles of water and flooded streets, I also cannot enjoy the beach where I live because the water is contaminated. Meanwhile, Congressman D’Esposito just voted to cut 25% of the community water funding we had in the federal budget. At the same time, he wants to divide us by blaming immigrants and claiming that we are stealing resources from the government. This is wrong. Immigrant work and labor helps keep this government going, we also pay taxes but continue to be barred from essential social services. To D’Esposito: do your job and stop playing political games with our lives. Do not take away funds from the services that keep our communities healthy.”

“The future of Long Island is based on the actions our Representatives take today. Anthony D’Esposito’s willingness to ignore the emerging toxic chemicals found in our water supply today and his actions against the EPA are short sighted and harmful to the current health and safety of the working families of Long Island. Without clean, safe water, many families will find their future here on Long Island threatened. It’s time for Representative D’Esposito to wake up to the needs of all his constituents and protect our water and our future,” said Nia Adams, Vice Chair of the Working Families Party of Nassau County.