"Long Island Sound's shoreline provides vital bird habitat and fish nurseries, and we can only protect what remains in partnership with committed public officials," said Audubon President and CEO John Flicker. "Through actions, the congressman has demonstrated that commitment, time and again: Christopher Shays is a real champion for Long Island Sound."

"Long Island Sound is a precious resource and we have a responsibility to do everything we can to preserve and protect it for future generations," said Representative Shays. "I commend the Audubon Society for their steadfast dedication, and look forward to continue working together to clean-up, preserve, and protect Long Island Sound."

A longtime advocate for the Sound, Representative Shays's leadership extends from his earliest days as a freshman legislator. He helped establish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Long Island Sound office, was an advocate for implementation of the nitrogen reduction strategy set forth by the EPA, annually secures funding for Sound clean-up efforts, and led the effort to find funding to protect Calves Island and other important habitats throughout the Sound. The congressman's work also helped to make Calves Island part of the McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.

Representative Shays is working with Audubon and its partners at the Regional Plan Association and Save the Sound to establish a Long Island Sound Reserve, a network of protected areas throughout the Sound. The project inspired by public comments during the Listen to the Sound 2000 Citizen hearings is designed to improve protection and restoration of key coastal habitats, while providing greater public access to the Sound.