Rep. Nick LaLota touts tax cuts, federal dollars for East End in bid for third term

Congressman Nick LaLota declined the Times Review Editorial Board’s invitation for an in-person or virtual interview, citing scheduling conflicts. He instead provided written responses to emailed questions.

In his run for a third, two-year term as the representative of New York’s First Congressional District, Rep. Nick LaLota wants to continue to cut middle class federal taxes and invest in public safety, infrastructure and water quality. 

The lifelong Long Islander, U.S. Navy veteran and father of three said while in office he has fought to quadruple the SALT deduction to $40,000, slash taxes, secure nearly $600 million in federal dollars for Long Island, protect the region’s waterways and deliver for law enforcement, veterans and first responders.

When reflecting on what he has learned since first entering office in 2023, he said persistence, relationships and putting constituents first can deliver results — even when it means challenging his own party at times. He said he has worked with politicians across the aisle for labor, veterans, farmers and clean water. Through this collaboration, he has succeeded in securing over $15 million for East End projects. 

“I’ve stood up to my own party when necessary because Long Island comes first,” said Mr. LaLota, who lives in Amityville. “My focus remains common sense over politics and results over rhetoric.” 

He pointed to work with lawmakers of both parties on labor, veterans’ health care, clean water and lowering health care costs. Before entering Congress in 2023, he said, he worked with his Democratic counterpart as Suffolk County’s Republican elections commissioner to ensure fair and secure elections. He is also a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and said the Lugar Center ranked him as more bipartisan than 85% of Congress.

“Washington is dysfunctional because it’s too partisan, and compromise is too often seen as a bad thing,” Mr. LaLota said. “I’m a commonsense conservative, not a rubber stamp. I’ll work with Democrats who deliver results and challenge Republicans who stand in the way. Long Island comes first.”

In speaking to voters living on the North Fork and in Riverhead, Mr. LaLota understands families face rising costs, young people struggle to afford housing, seniors confront high taxes and farmers battle workforce shortages. 

His goal is to preserve the East End’s farmland, waterways, and quality of life while keeping the North Fork affordable for future generations. 

On notable legislation, in the past year he helped advance the Water Resources Development Act through the House, including over $115 million for Long Island water and flood protection, and a new Army Corps of Engineers study of Mattituck Inlet to address dredging and navigation, while protecting the Peconic Estuary and our coastal economy.

Last July, he aided in passing the Working Families Tax Cuts, and this year, working families, homeowners, and seniors started to see an average of $3,000 savings when they filed their federal income taxes, including the SALT deduction that soared to $40,000, tax relief on tips and overtime, and a new $6,000 Social Security deduction. 

He said he also supported making the 20% small-business tax deduction permanent, strengthening estate-tax protections to help keep farms in families and reforming the H-2A and H-2B guest-worker programs.

“North Fork farms, vineyards, and nurseries create jobs, preserve open space, and support tourism, but rising costs and workforce shortages threaten their future,” he said. “I’ll keep fighting to protect our farmland, clean water, and agricultural economy.” 

Clean water is another priority, Mr. LaLota said. He cited $4.5 million to extend a public water main to homes affected by PFAS contamination in Calverton and said he is seeking more than $4.6 million in additional Community Project Funding for water projects. He also requested $3.25 million for PFAS remediation at the former Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant in Calverton, saying the Navy requested the funding.

Although the Navy has reported meeting cleanup goals at 11 sites and treating more than 184 million gallons of contaminated groundwater, Mr. LaLota said concerns remain. He pledged to press for federal accountability, testing and remediation.

“Long Islanders deserve safe drinking water and shouldn’t have to foot the bill for pollution they didn’t create,” he said. 

Mr. LaLota, who is running against Democrat Chris Gallant, also said he is continuing to push for permanent protection of Plum Island, where the federal government operates a research facility. He said he welcomes Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine’s interest in taking ownership but that any proposal must address cleanup, stewardship and funding.

“Plum Island is an environmental, historical, and scientific treasure,” the congressman said. “Whether through national monument designation or county ownership, my goal is permanent protection, conservation, research, and responsible public access.” 

On immigration enforcement, Mr. LaLota criticized OLA of Eastern Long Island’s proposed public-safety policy, calling it a “Mamdani-Hochul-style sanctuary proposal” — referring to Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul. He said it would restrict communication between local police and federal immigration authorities.

Mr. LaLota said 106 of Long Island’s 108 towns and villages have rejected sanctuary policies, identifying East Hampton Town and East Hampton Village as the exceptions. He said he opposes the proposal and will not support future discretionary Community Project Funding requests while those policies remain in place. He said the pledge applies to his sponsorship of new requests, not money Congress has already appropriated or other federal funding.

“It’s chaos by design, and I strongly oppose it,” Mr. LaLota said. “I’ve been clear: while East Hampton’s sanctuary policies remain in place, I will not support those municipalities’ requests for discretionary Community Project Funding. Those requests require my sponsorship, and I won’t support them while these policies undermine public safety.” 

In response to criticism from  constituents regarding his availability for public office hours and open houses, he said accessibility and accountability are “fundamental responsibilities of public office.” He said he has held more than 20 town halls and that his office has helped more than 6,000 Long Islanders recover more than $18 million in benefits and payments.

“My staff and I regularly meet with constituents, community organizations, and local officials. I don’t shy away from tough questions or disagreements,” he said. “I work for every Long Islander, whether they voted for me or not. That means listening, being accountable, and fighting to deliver results.”