Tom Suozzi says his bid for another term representing New York’s 3rd Congressional District is driven by a desire to solve problems, particularly rising living costs, immigration and environmental protection.
Suozzi, 64, of Glen Cove, is well known in the area, having served as the city’s mayor and as Nassau County executive. A lawyer and certified public accountant, the Democrat said his decades in government have reinforced why he entered public service.
“Ego is not enough, and the game and competition is not enough because a lot of times it’s just awful,” he told Herald reporters at a roundtable interview. “It’s only if you are fulfilled by actually making things better for people.”
Suozzi identified affordability as voters’ leading concern, alongside immigration, taxes, crime and health care. He blamed tariffs, the war with Iran, federal debt, energy costs and health insurance expenses for putting pressure on household budgets and said addressing living costs should be Congress’s priority.
“The most important focus of the next Congress has got to be to work on addressing the cost of living in our country,” he said.
On immigration, Suozzi proposed permanently securing the border, overhauling the asylum system and creating a pathway to work authorization for certain longtime residents without legal status. His proposal would allow people who have lived in the country for more than 10 years without committing crimes to pay a fine and earn work authorization, rather than necessarily obtaining citizenship.
“We need to secure the border permanently,” he said. “We need to fix the broken asylum system. But then we need to start figuring out how to treat people like human beings.”
Suozzi said he has convened conferences bringing together business leaders, law enforcement representatives, religious organizations and nonprofit groups to seek agreement on immigration policy.
He also noted working with Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick on Immigration and Customs Enforcement reforms, including limits on agents wearing masks and changes to training requirements.
Suozzi opposes the Propel NY Energy transmission project. He said he contacted the Army Corps of Engineers and sought a public hearing on concerns involving Hempstead Harbor, including potential disruption to shellfish beds.
“I think of the Long Island Sound as our national park,” he said, pointing to his work securing funding for water cleanup and restoring oysters and clams in Hempstead Harbor.
Recalling his time as Glen Cove mayor, Suozzi said he oversaw improvements to sewage treatment that reduced nitrogen discharges, to protect marine life throughout the region for decades.
Regarding drinking water, he advocated a long-term regional plan involving Nassau County’s numerous water districts. He said collaboration is needed to address contamination, saltwater intrusion, stormwater runoff and aquifer protection.
“We just need to be having a master plan where all the water districts work together for this 50-year plan,” he said.
Suozzi also described intervening in mail delivery problems affecting Glenwood Landing residents, saying his office helped restore access to post office boxes and was seeking feedback about continuing difficulties.
On Iran, he argued against abruptly ending American military involvement, calling instead for a phased withdrawal coordinated with Congress and allies.
He said bipartisan cooperation remains central to his approach as a co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus.
“I’ll work with anybody if you want to actually solve problems and make people’s lives better,” Suozzi said. “I may disagree with you completely, but I’ll work with you as long as you’re honestly trying to help people.”
