Far too many times, Long Island has made national headlines for the storms and hurricanes our community has weathered. Our homes, schools, and neighborhoods have been laid to waste from destructive disasters such as Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the deadly remnants of Tropical Storm Ida this past summer. With each devastating occurrence and the subsequent economic hardships, household losses, and — most gravely — fatalities suffered, residents wonder: how could this have been prevented?
The answer lies in a bill being debated in Congress at this very moment: the Build Back Better Act (BBB). If passed, this comprehensive legislation would be the largest effort to combat climate change in American history. Moreover, it would also remove dangerous lead pipes, curb air pollution, create millions of good-paying jobs, provide free preschool education, expand access to public transit and affordable housing, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and more.
