Thursday, November 12, 2026
This story has been updated.
The Village of Freeport may be receiving $3.3 million to purchase and install additional stormwater pumping stations across the village. The funding was supplied through the passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 from the U.S. House of Representatives.
A total of $125 million for Long Island water infrastructure projects was secured in total last month thanks to the bipartisan legislation. The Water Resources Development Act passed unanimously out of the House of Representative’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
In a press release following the package’s passage from Congresswoman Laura Gillen, representative of New York’s Fourth Congressional District, expressed pride and pleasure in getting important infrastructure underway for communities like Freeport. She was a part of the committee that developed the legislation.
“I am thrilled this bipartisan water infrastructure package has passed the House with real investments for Long Island,” Gillen said. “Through my work on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I fought to secure $125 million for critical water infrastructure projects across our communities. That includes replacing lead pipes in Garden City, upgrading aging water mains in Long Beach and strengthening stormwater pumps in Freeport.”
Village of Freeport Mayor Robert T. Kennedy clarified to the Herald that the funding has not been awarded to the village as of yet, and that applications will be available to potentially secure the funding will be available next year. Gillen did not detail that distinction in her press release.
In addition to the potential $3.3 million that will go towards mitigating chronic tidal flooding in Freeport’s low lying neighborhoods, $65.57 million was authorized for water and wastewater infrastructure in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. An additional $20 million for wastewater infrastructure and environmental restoration in Nassau County was also approved.
Freeport previously received a grant for $1.1 million earlier this year from Gillen for the installation of anti-flooding equipment near and on the Nautical Mile. This additional funding was announced prior to the nor’easter storm that caused significant flooding in the village.
