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Lee Zeldin’s environmental record shows a second Trump term will continue to deny science. Zeldin has consistently opposed measures to address climate change like the Paris Climate Agreement. In 2014, he even refused to acknowledge that climate change was a serious problem. Zeldin also has ties to a Long Island environmental scandal that involved the dumping of toxic debris on a soccer field and a site near a veteran housing development. Eventually prosecutors charged Thomas Datre Sr and his son for the incident. Datre Jr. eventually pled guilty to endangering public health, which was followed by charges against his father being dismissed. Datre Sr. and his wife also pled guilty in a separate incident for failing to pay their employees the full wages they were owed. Zeldin has accepted at least $7,000 from the Datre family since 2008. Zeldin even accepted contributions from Clara Darte after her company pled guilty in the wage paying case. Zeldin has been criticized for his lack of environmental qualifications, but his loyalty to Trump is the resume point that matters above everything else. Zeldin backed Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and even gave Mark Meadow’s advice on how to press Trump’s case in the media. Outside of environmental issues, Zeldin’s congressional career proved he is a right-wing extremist. Zeldin celebrated the fall of Roe v. Wade, voted for a national abortion ban, and even voted against guaranteeing the right to access contraceptives. Zeldin also proposed a bill to allow people on the terror watchlist to buy guns unless the government seeks a court order to prevent them. To top it all off, Zeldin was known to consistently miss important committee meetings in Congress. Lee Zeldin is an enabler of Trump’s worst tendencies with a bad record on environmental issues. He is not the right man to protect American’s health at the EPA. |
2018: Zeldin Opposed The U.S. Joining The Paris Climate Agreement. According to The Nation, "In 2018, Zeldin said that he did not support US participation in the Paris Agreement." [The Nation, 11/18/24]
2019: Zeldin Voted Against Restricting Drilling On Offshore Waters And In Wildlife Refuges. According to The Nation, "In 2019, then-Representative for New York’s District 1 Lee Zeldin voted against extending the moratorium on offshore drilling on the Florida Gulf Coast. That same year, he voted against another bill that would have protected the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from new oil and gas leases." [The Nation, 11/18/24]
2014: Zeldin Stated He Was “Not Sold Yet” On Idea Climate Change Was Serious Problem
2014: Zeldin Stated He Was “Not Sold Yet” On Idea Climate Change Was Serious Problem. According to The Nation, "In 2014, Zeldin said that he was 'not sold yet on the whole argument that we have as serious a problem' in response to rising global temperatures." [The Nation, 11/18/24]
Thomas Darte Sr. And Jr. Charged For Dumping Toxic Debris In Soccer Park And Site Near Veteran Housing Development. According to CBS New York, "Also among those charged is prominent builder Thomas Datre Sr. and his son, Thomas Datre Jr., a trucker/hauler, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported. [...] Datre, Jr., the alleged mastermind, is accused of hauling the demolition debris from New York City -- avoiding costly legal disposal -- and dumping more than 1,700 truckloads at four Long Island sites, Gusoff reported. Prosecutors began investigating last spring after investigators discovered about 50,000 tons of debris laced with asbestos, pesticides and other material at Islip-owned Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood. Illegal dumping was later found at a housing development for returning military veterans and at two vacant lots in the town. DA Spota called the indictment a portrait of greed and corruption, Gusoff reported." [CBS New York, 12/8/14]
2016: Thomas Datre Jr. Plead Guilty To Endangering Public Health For Dumping Scandal. According to CBS New York, "Thomas Datre Jr., 42, of St. James, had been on trial since Feb. 23 in Central Islip, along with his father, Thomas Datre Sr., and four family-owned companies. They were charged with dumping tons of contaminated construction debris at four locations in Suffolk County. Datre Jr. pleaded guilty to four felony charges of third-degree endangering the public health, safety or environment, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. He will be sentenced to up to three years in prison, and is responsible for the restoration of the areas where the debris was dumped. The dumping turned a public park into a crime scene, and prosecutors claim it endangered drinking water and veterans." [CBS New York, 3/30/16]
2016: Clara And Thomas Darte Sr. Plead Guilty To Misdemeanor Charge After Failing To Pay Employees Full Wages. According to TRB News Media, “In a separate investigation and indictment, Datre Sr. and Clara Datre, representing Daytree at Cortland Square Inc. before Justice Fernando Camacho, acknowledged the firm’s failure to pay prevailing wages to its workers performing tree and stump removal for the Town of Islip. For the plea to the misdemeanor charge failure to pay the prevailing wage, 13 workers employed by Daytree at Cortland Square Inc. will be paid by the company approximately $90,000 in wages that they did not receive while working on the town contract.” [TRB News Media, 4/6/16]
2008: Zeldin’s Congressional Campaign Accepted $2,300 From Clara And Thomas Datre Sr. According to the FEC, Lee Zeldin for Congress accepted $2,300 from Clara and Thomas A. Datre in 2008. [FEC.gov, Accessed 1/8/15]
2013 - 2014: Zeldin’s Congressional Campaign Accepted $1,250 From Clara And Thomas Datre Sr. According to the FEC, Lee Zeldin for Congress accepted $1,250 from Clara and Thomas A. Datre from 2013 to 2014. [FEC.gov, Accessed 1/8/25]
2021: Zeldin’s Congressional Campaign Accepted $250 From Clara Datre. According to the FEC, Lee Zeldin for Congress accepted $250 from Clara Datre in 2021. [FEC.gov, Accessed 1/8/25]
2010 - 2013: Zeldin’s State Senate Campaign Accepted $2,200 From Clara And Thomas Datre Sr. According to New York State’s Board of Elections, Lee M. Zeldin’s State Senate Campaign #29347 accepted $2,200 from Clara and Thomas A. Datre from 2010 to 2013. [New York State Board of Election, “Lee M Zeldin - State Senate - 29347, Search: “Datre,” Accessed 1/8/25
2021 - 2022: Zeldin’s Governor Campaign Accepted $1,000 From Clara Datre. According to New York State’s Board of Elections, Lee Michael Zeldin’s Governor Campaign #165216 accepted $1,000 from Clara Datre from 2021 to 2022. [New York State Board of Election, “Lee Michael Seldin - Governor - 165216,” Search: “Datre,” Accessed 1/8/25]
2020: Zeldin Joined Lawsuit Asking Supreme Court To Overturn Election Results. According to the New York Times, “At nearly every turn, Mr. Zeldin sided with Republicans who were amplifying doubts about its legitimacy. A month after the election, he signed onto a Texas lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to throw out results in key swing states, previewing his Jan. 6 votes. [New York Times, 10/19/22]
Zeldin Sent Out Fundraising Email On January 6th After He Voted Against Certifying The 2020 Election. According to POLITICO, "On Jan. 6, 2021, Zeldin’s congressional campaign sent out a fundraising email telling supporters why he voted against certifying the election: 'My objection today is necessary to protect our Constitution, our elections, our people, and our Republic.'" [POLITICO, 7/23/22]
Zeldin Worked With Mark Meadows To Help Trump Push Election Fraud Claims
Zeldin Worked With Mark Meadows To Help Trump Push Election Fraud Claims. According to the New York Times, “Recently disclosed records show that shortly after the election, Mr. Zeldin worked behind the scenes to pass along ideas to Mr. Meadows, who had become White House chief of staff, about how Mr. Trump could better make his case. According to text messages shared with the House committee investigating Jan. 6, Mr. Zeldin suggested the campaign should ‘upload vetted voting irregularities (videos, etc) onto one narrowly focused, credible microsite with a donation link for the Presidents legal fund for all of us to reference’ and appoint a single spokesman dedicated to giving public daily updates cataloging legal actions and alleged irregularities. [New York Times, 10/19/22]
2018: Zeldin Met With Long Island Chapter Of Oath Keepers. According to New York Daily News, "Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin is one of nine Republicans facing Democratic attacks for meeting with an extremist conservative group. A Zeldin spokeswoman acknowledges that last month he addressed the Long Island chapter of Oath Keepers, a group of retired military, police and fire department employees who say they are committed to fighting 'the tyranny we experience in our local, state and federal governments.'" [New York Daily News, 7/3/15]
Zeldin "Applauded" “Extreme Anti-Government” Group During 2022 Campaign For New York Governor. According to POLITICO, "More recently on the campaign trail, Zeldin has applauded the Long Island Loud Majority, one of the groups the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center classified as 'extreme anti-government' in 2021. The Loud Majority, which the law center included on its list for making 'threats of political violence around issues of vaccines, masking, COVID restrictions,' describes itself as 'a home for Patriots who have been cast off, disenfranchised, and abandoned' with a mission to inspire action. 'Always there fighting the good fight,' Zeldin said in March of the group, which incorrectly argues Trump won the 2020 election." [POLITICO, 7/23/22]
ZELDIN VOTED FOR A FEDERAL ABORTION BAN TWICE
2017: Zeldin Voted For A Federal Abortion Ban. In October 2017, Zeldin voted for legislation banning abortion after the fetus is 20-weeks old. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Passage of the bill that would prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later and would impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the ban. It would provide exceptions for cases in which the woman’s life is in danger as well as for pregnancies that are a result of rape for pregnancies that are a result of rape against an adult woman, if the woman received counseling or medical treatment for the rape at least 48 hours prior to the abortion. An exception would be provided for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest against a minor if the rape or incest had been previously reported to law enforcement or another government agency authorized to act on reports of child abuse. The bill would require a second doctor trained in neonatal resuscitation to be present for abortions where the fetus has the ‘potential’ to survive outside the womb.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 237 to 189. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 549, 10/3/17; Congressional Quarterly, 10/3/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 36]
• 99 Percent Of Abortions Were Before 21 Weeks And Those After Are Due To Complex Situations. According to Planned Parenthood Action Fund, “Nearly 99 percent of abortions occur before 21 weeks, but when they are needed later in pregnancy, it’s often in very complex circumstances. For example, severe fetal anomalies and serious risks to the woman’s health — the kind of situations where a woman and her doctor need every medical option available.” [Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Accessed 10/11/17]
2015: Zeldin Voted For A Federal Abortion Ban. In May 2015, Zeldin voted for a bill that would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks of gestation and would impose criminal penalties on doctors that violated the ban. According to Congressional Quarterly, the amendment would, “prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later and would impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the ban. It would provide exceptions for cases in which the woman’s life is in danger as well as for pregnancies that are a result of rape if, as amended, for pregnancies that are a result of rape against an adult woman, the woman received counseling or medical treatment for the rape at least 48 hours prior to the abortion. An exception would be provided for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest against a minor if the rape or incest had been previously reported to law enforcement or another government agency authorized to act on reports of child abuse. As amended, the bill would require a second doctor trained in neonatal resuscitation to be present for abortions where the fetus has the ‘potential’ to survive outside the womb, and, if the fetus is born alive, the bill would require that the infant be provided medical care and immediately be transported and admitted to a hospital. As amended, women wishing to have abortions under the bill’s exceptions would need to sign (along with the doctor and a witness) an informed consent authorization form detailing the age of the fetus and stating that, if born alive, would be given medical assistance and transported to a hospital.” The vote was on passage and the House passed the bill 242 to 184. Cloture on the motion to proceed on the bill was blocked in the Senate. [House Vote 223, 5/13/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/13/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/12/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 36]
• The Bill Would Sentence Doctors To Up To Five Years In Jail For Violating The Ban. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The bill imposes criminal penalties on physicians who violate the ban, with violations subject to a maximum five-year jail sentence, fines or both. It prohibits the prosecution of the woman obtaining the abortion, however, either as the perpetrator or as a conspirator to violate the ban.” [Congressional Quarterly, 5/12/15]
• The Bill Would Create Barriers For Exceptions In The Case Of Rape Or Incest. According to Congressional Quarterly, “And while the original bill’s rape and incest provisions were onerous, they say the new language erects new barriers, including requiring rape victims to document that they received prior medical treatment or counseling, and that a second doctor be present for the abortion.” [Congressional Quarterly, 5/12/15]
ZELDIN EFFECTIVELY VOTED AGAINST ALLOWING AN EXCEPTION TO A FEDERAL ABORTION BAN IF THE HEALTH OF THE WOMAN WAS IN DANGER
2015: Zeldin Effectively Voted Against Allowing An Exception To A Federal Abortion Ban If The Health Of The Woman Was In Danger. In May 2015, Zeldin effectively voted against an exception to a 20-week abortion ban for when the life of the pregnant woman was at risk. According to the Congressional Quarterly, the legislation was a motion to “recommit the bill to the House Judiciary Committee with instructions to report back immediately with an amendment that would add an exception to the 20-week abortion ban for abortions necessary to save the health of the pregnant woman.” The larger legislation was HR 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would have prohibited “an abortion from being performed if the probably post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater” except where it is necessary to save the life of the mother, or in the case of rape or incest if the woman had had counseling and had reported the incident. The vote was on a motion to recommit with instructions and the House rejected the motion 181 to 246. H.R. 36 passed the House on May 13, 2015 in a vote 242 to 184. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 222, 5/13/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/13/15; Congress.gov, 5/13/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 36]
2017: Zeldin Effectively Voted Against Allowing An Exception For The Health Of The Mother From A Federal Abortion Ban. In October 2017, Zeldin effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “add[ed] an exception to the 20-week abortion ban for abortions necessary to save the health of the pregnant woman.” The underlying legislation was a 20-week abortion ban. The House rejected the motion to recommit by a vote of 187 to 238. [House Vote 548, 10/3/17; Congressional Quarterly, 10/3/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 36]
ZELDIN ON THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE: “TODAY IS A VICTORY FOR LIFE, FOR FAMILY, FOR THE CONSTITUTION, AND FOR FEDERALISM”
Zeldin Said Roe V. Wade Being Overturned Was “Yet Another Reminder That New York Clearly Needs To Do A Much Better Job To Promote, Respect And Defend Life.” According to the Register-Star, “Women, local Planned Parenthood leaders and other officials Friday condemned or praised the U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade. The decision erases women's constitutional right to an abortion in the United States and allows states to outlaw abortions, if they choose. […] Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin called the decision a victory for life, family and the Constitution. ‘When my daughters, Mikayla and Arianna, were born 14 1/2 weeks early, I had the opportunity to witness life in the second trimester and it was absolutely beautiful,’ Zeldin said in a statement. ‘In a state that has legalized late-term partial-birth abortion and non-doctors performing abortion, in a state that refuses to advance informed consent and parental consent, and where not enough is being done to promote adoption and support mothers, today is yet another reminder that New York clearly needs to do a much better job to promote, respect and defend life.’” [Register Star via Nexis, 6/25/22]
Zeldin: “Today Is A Victory For Life, For Family, For The Constitution, And For Federalism.” According to Newsday, “Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley), who is running for the Republican nomination for governor, celebrated the court's decision, invoking his twin daughters, who were born premature in the second trimester. ‘Today is a victory for life, for family, for the Constitution, and for federalism,’ Zeldin said in a statement. He added that more needed to be done in the state ‘to promote adoption and support mothers.’” [Newsday via Nexis, 6/25/22]
ZELDIN VOTED AGAINST CODIFYING ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTIVES
2022: Zeldin Voted Against Codifying The Right To Access Contraceptives And The Right For Health Care Providers To Provide Contraceptives To Their Patients. In July 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Zeldin voted against the Right to Contraception Act, which would “protect a person's ability to access contraceptives and to engage in contraception, and to protect a health care provider's ability to provide contraceptives, contraception, and information related to contraception.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote 228-195, thus the bill was sent to Senate. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 385, 7/21/22; Congressional Quarterly, 7/21/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 8373]
• The Bill Would Establish The Federal Right For Contraception Access And The Right For Medical Providers To Provide Contraceptives. According to Reuters, “The bill would create a federal right for people to access contraceptives and for doctors and pharmacists to provide them. Contraceptives are used by 88% of U.S. women of childbearing age who are not trying to get pregnant, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights advocacy group.” [Reuters, 7/21/22]
ZELDIN VOTED AGAINST PROHIBITING COPAYMENTS FOR VETERAN’S CONTRACEPTIVES
2021: Zeldin Voted Against Prohibiting Copayments For Contraceptives Covered By Health Insurance Plans Without A Cost-Sharing Requirement For Veterans. In June 2021, Zeldin voted against the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, “prohibit the Veterans Affairs Department from requiring copayments from a veteran for any contraceptive items that are required to be covered by health insurance plans without a cost-sharing requirement.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 245- 181, after initially failing to meet 2/3 of the vote on June 15th, 2021. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 184, 6/24/21; Congressional Quarterly, 6/24/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 239]
2015: ZELDIN MISSED MORE THAN HALF OF FULL HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETINGS
2015: Zeldin Missed More Than Half Of Full House Foreign Affairs Committee Meetings. According to the New York Post, “Freshman Rep. Lee Zeldin has positioned himself as a foreign policy firebrand with his tough talk on taking out ISIS. But Zeldin has skipped out from his assignment as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which is charged with dealing with national security foreign policy. A review by The Post found the Long Island Republican missed more than half of full committee hearings last year.” [New York Post, 1/14/16]
2015: Zeldin Was Absent From 12 Of 18 Hearings That Dealt Specifically With ISIS And Syria
2015: Zeldin Was Absent From 12 Of 18 Hearings That Dealt Specifically With ISIS And Syria. According to the New York Post, “Zeldin was a no-show last year at 12 of 18 hearings that dealt specifically with ISIS and Syria.” [New York Post, 1/14/16]
Zeldin Proposed Bill To Allow Terrorist Watch List Subjects To Buy Guns
Zeldin Proposed Bill To Allow People On Terrorist Watch List To Buy Guns Unless Justice Department Files Court Order. According to Newsday, “Rep. Lee Zeldin filed a bill Friday to allow individuals on U.S. terrorist watch lists to buy guns unless the Justice Department stops them with a court order, countering legislation sponsored by Rep. Peter King that would automatically block those weapons sales. [...] There is now no legal bar to those on watch lists being able to buy guns, and a study found 2,043 of them passed background checks to purchase weapons from 2004 to 2014.” [Newsday, 11/11/15]