ICYMI Video: Senate Passes Blumenthal's Legislation to Advance Management & Conservation of Plum Island

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In case you missed it, the Senate unanimously passed legislation authored by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to create a long-term solution for management of Plum Island. The Plum Island Preservation Study Act requires the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to conduct a study to evaluate the national significance of Plum Island and the suitability of designating Plum Island as a unit of DOI. Blumenthal spoke on the Senate floor yesterday in support of the Plum Island Preservation Study Act passing through unanimous consent.

“Thank you for giving us this opportunity, and, again, I thank my colleagues for approving all of these unanimous consents on behalf of land and resources that have such great value, like Plum Island, a national treasure,” said Blumenthal.

“The passage of the Plum Island Preservation Study Act, while not achieving immediate and permanent protection of Plum Island and its nationally significant natural, historic, cultural, and scenic resources, is, nevertheless, a critical step toward achieving this highly worthwhile goal,” said Preserve Plum Island Coalition spokesperson John Turner. “We applaud all of our Senate and House sponsors for sticking with it and pushing the measure over the finish line. We urge Congress next to expeditiously appropriate funding so the Department of the Interior can undertake the studied assessment which we are confident will find Plum Island worthy of permanent preservation.”

“Bravo and thank you Senator Blumenthal! You heard us and have worked tirelessly for many years to promote the preservation of Plum Island,” said Louise Harrison, Save the Sound’s Long Island Project Manager. “The Plum Island Preservation Study Act sets out a route for the studies and stakeholder collaborations necessary to bring the people’s vision for Plum Island into focus. There is no place like Plum Island; we are thrilled this legislation has passed and look forward to a House bill passing that brings this to full fruition. Moreover, we can’t wait for the day Plum Island is fully preserved.”

“The Nature Conservancy commends Senator Blumenthal, Majority Leader Schumer, and the entire U.S. Senate for approving the Plum Island Preservation Study Act, an important step toward permanently protecting Plum Island,” said Bill Ulfelder, The Nature Conservancy’s New York Executive Director. “Just 100 miles from New York City, Plum Island is a national treasure that provides a myriad of benefits for people and wildlife. We are grateful to Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senators Blumenthal, Gillibrand, and Murphy, and Congressmembers LaLota and Courtney for their unwavering dedication and leadership in protecting this extraordinary place.”

Situated in Long Island Sound between Connecticut and New York, Plum Island is a federally-owned 840-acre island home to several endangered and vulnerable species. The island also houses the Fort Terry and Plum Island Lighthouses, two locations on the National Register of Historic Places. The Connecticut and New York delegations have been working extensively with DOI, the General Services Administration, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to solidify the future of Plum Island, and this legislation marks landmark progress in the fight to permanently preserve the island.

Video of Blumenthal’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here. The full text of the Plum Island Preservation Study Act can be found here.

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