Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) announced nearly $1 million in funding secured in the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill for the Billion Oyster Project’s restoration of the Paerdegat Oyster Reef for STEM Education and Coastal Protection. The announcement took place at the Paerdegat Yacht Club, at 1330 Paerdegat Avenue North, on Wednesday, August 14th.
“The Billion Oyster Project will use the federal funds to expand STEM educational opportunities for NYC public school students while restoring the historic oyster reefs to Jamaica Bay where they have gone practically extinct,” Jeffries said. “Through the construction of a 6.5-acre, 90-million oyster reef, the Billion Oyster Project aims to restore once-natural green infrastructure to provide shoreline and storm surge protection to the Brooklyn shoreline.”
“The benefit of this project is enormous in terms of cleaning the water, opening up and strengthening the ecosystem, allowing for marine life to grow and flourish and expand and to strengthen the resiliency of our community in an environment where we’re continuing to face a rise in extreme weather events.”
“And so, when I had the opportunity, as the Member of Congress from the Eighth Congressional District, to support a variety of different initiatives through the Community Project Funding appropriations process, it was an honor to jump in headfirst and to make sure that we were doing what was necessary to provide the monetary support to bring the Billion Oyster Project to life.”
“And that is why, in connection with this project and on behalf of these brilliant students from the Harbor School who represent our future in this community, in this city and in this country, it’s my honor to join you and present this check to the Billion Oyster Project for $963,000,” Jeffries said.
Courtesy of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries’ Office
