Recognizing 100TH Anniversary of Long Island Association

Text in the Record

(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. LaLota of New York was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. )

General Leave

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York? There was no objection. Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, tonight, I am honored to host a Special Order in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Long Island Association. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an institution that has helped shape Long Island's economy, strengthened its communities, and championed its future for the past century. For 100 years, the Long Island Association has served as the leading voice of Long Island's business community, bringing together employers, entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations, educators, labor leaders, and public officials around a shared mission: ensuring Long Island remains one of the best places in America to live, work, raise a family, and build a business. Founded in 1926 as the Long Island Chamber of Commerce, the organization emerged during a period of tremendous growth with an ambitious mission: to promote Long Island's unique strengths and expand economic opportunity throughout the region. That mission has endured, even as Long Island has evolved from a collection of agricultural communities and seasonal destinations into one of the Nation's most dynamic regional economies. Today, Long Island is home to world-class manufacturers, innovative life science companies, internationally recognized research institutions, thriving small businesses, and vibrant downtowns. Throughout that transformation, the Long Island Association has been a steadfast advocate for policies that encourage investment, innovation, and job creation. Whether advancing critical infrastructure projects, strengthening workforce development, or helping businesses navigate extraordinary challenges--from the aftermath of September 11 to Superstorm Sandy to the COVID-19 pandemic--the LIA has consistently demonstrated thoughtful leadership and an unwavering commitment to our region. Its work continues today as Long Island confronts many of the challenges that will define our next century, including affordability, housing, infrastructure, energy reliability, and maintaining a business climate that allows employers of every size to succeed. New York's exceptionally high tax burden only makes those challenges more difficult. Meeting those challenges is essential, not only for today's economy but for ensuring that future generations can continue to build successful careers and rewarding lives on Long Island. Mr. Speaker, I will also recognize the outstanding leadership of the Long Island Association, who are joining us in the gallery this evening: Chairman Lawrence J. Waldman; Acting President and Chief Executive Officer Stacey Sikes; and members of the board of directors, including Billy Haugland, Katherine Heaviside, and Luis Vazquez. Their leadership and the dedication of countless other board members,

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staff, volunteers, and business leaders over the past century have positioned the Long Island Association for continued success in the years ahead.

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As someone privileged to represent New York's First Congressional District, I know that Long Island's greatest asset has always been its people--the entrepreneurs, workers, educators, researchers, veterans, community leaders, and innovators whose talent and determination make our region exceptional. For a century, the Long Island Association has brought those voices together in pursuit of a stronger regional economy and a brighter future. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Long Island Association on this extraordinary centennial anniversary. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and the people of New York's First Congressional District, I thank the association, its leadership, its members, and everyone who has contributed to this remarkable legacy. May its second century be as successful as its first. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Gillen). Ms. GILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Long Island Association. For a century, it has been an institution at the heart of Long Island's economy and business community. I thank Chairman Waldman, Acting President Sikes, and the association's board members who traveled to Washington this week. It is a privilege to reaffirm our shared commitment to prosperity and opportunity for every Long Islander. Long Island's businesses and industries contribute more than $200 billion to our Nation's economy each year. We are an economic powerhouse, driving innovation and discoveries in national security, medicine, and next-generation technologies. Giving Long Island's businesses a strong base with no limits on their success is how we bolster our local economy and our way of life. Core to its mission, the Long Island Association has been a crucial bridge between businesses and local and Federal government leaders. That partnership is foundational to the success of every entrepreneur, industry, and family-owned business that built Long Island. Our work here in Washington is first and foremost to deliver for our communities through bipartisanship and common sense. Doing so through pro-business and pro-worker policies gives our region the room to grow and stay competitive. The Long Island Association partnership has been instrumental in helping meet the challenges that we face. We must make Long Island more affordable to keep attracting world-class talent and give companies the chance to invest in themselves. That starts with lowering the high cost and taxes our families and businesses pay, including fully and permanently eliminating the SALT cap and undoing harmful tariffs. It means making housing more affordable and ensuring every young professional and hardworking family has a place to call home. We must meet our energy needs with an all-of-the-above strategy and guarantee our infrastructure can support a growing economy. We must cut Federal red tape and invest in our industries to fuel greater opportunity across our region. I am proud to have worked with the association and with my Long Island colleagues across the aisle to tackle these challenges head on. I remain committed to being a trusted voice in Washington for Long Island's businesses and workers. As we celebrate the Long Island Association's 100 years of excellence, I look forward to our continued partnership. Congratulations on this historic milestone and the beginning of another remarkable century of service. Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi). Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to be joining with my colleagues in the spirit of bipartisanship to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Long Island Association. It has been a long journey, where over 100 years, a few name changes, under different leadership, and over a transition from farmland to suburbia to one of the densest, most productive regions in the Nation, the Long Island Association has brought together the best minds in business, labor, education, government, and the not-for-profit community to lay out a vision to move our community forward. The Long Island Association has helped lead the way to make Long Island one of the most powerful regional economies in the United States of America. Now, the Long Island Association has not done everything right. In preparing for this speech, I learned that the Long Island Association, along with none other than Robert Moses, proposed a bridge from Connecticut to Long Island. It might have been a good idea for business and traffic, but it would have ruined my beaches. I have been in public life for over 30 years, first elected as mayor in 1993. As a result, I had the opportunity to be friendly with each leader of the Long Island Association during that time, from Jim Larocca to Matt Crosson to Kevin Law to Matt Cohen, and now the extraordinary Stacey Sikes. I worked together with Stacey when I was Nassau County Executive. I saw firsthand her intelligence, work ethic, integrity, and her ability to bring people together. She, together with our chairman, Larry Waldman, and so many other good people on the board, we realize the Long Island Association is in very good hands. For a century, the Long Island Association has been in the room for nearly every major conversation about our region's future. It helped advocate for the creation of Jones Beach State Park. It advocated for the Long Island Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway. It was there for the growth of Levittown and the merger of North Shore University Hospital and the Glen Cove Hospital, which laid the foundation for what is now Northwell Health.

The Long Island Association has supported the growth of research and innovation and has brought together leaders to address the workforce development, housing, clean water, energy, and the stewardship of our natural resources like the Long Island Sound. The association knows what businesses and workers need. It knows where Long Island commerce is pulling ahead and where it is falling behind. It understands the challenges we are facing when it comes to housing, transportation, workforce shortages, and energy reliability. It knows who needs to be in the room to ensure Long Island stays competitive in a rapidly changing economy. We need the Long Island Association now more than ever. In our contemporary world, with the division between Democrats and Republicans and a fractured media environment, it is hard to know who to trust. We need the Long Island Association to continue to bring us together in search of a common vision to make Long Island the best place to live, work, and enjoy our lives. The challenges we face today are different than they were 100 years ago, but the need for people to work together to cross party lines, to cross from business to labor, from elected officials to the not-for- profit community and education is the same need we have always had. We must work together to build upon the progress that has been made to increase the SALT deduction and make life more affordable for Long Islanders. We must work together to build more housing in downtowns so that we can expand the tax base and create an environment that is attractive and affordable to young people, and thereby expand our workforce and create cool downtowns. We must work together to ensure that our energy is sustainable, reliable, and affordable. We must work together to improve our infrastructure, reduce traffic, and hasten our commutes. We must work together to protect the environment and to keep our communities safe so that we can maintain one of the greatest qualities of life of any region in the Nation. Working together, Democrats and Republicans, in league with our partners represented by the Long Island Association, we know that Long Island's best days are ahead. Congratulations on an extraordinary first century, and here is to the next 100 years.

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Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues and I have described during this Special Order, Long Island's success has never happened by accident. Rather, it has always been driven by gritty, proud, hardworking people willing to invest in their communities and build a stronger future. For the last 100 years, the Long Island Association has helped lead that effort, and I have no doubt it will continue to do so for generations to come. I once again congratulate the Long Island Association on its centennial anniversary, thank its leadership and members for their enduring service to our region and wish them continued success ahead. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Messmer).

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Recognizing Ken Eppler, Outstanding Hoosier

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