{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mcgarvey.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-members-of-congress-launch-federal-push-to-fund-ohio-river-restoration", "Bipartisan Members of Congress Launch Federal Push to Fund Ohio River Restoration", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "KY", "Morgan McGarvey", "M001220", "mcgarvey.house.gov", "mcgarvey", "https://mcgarvey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Ohio River Basin, spanning 55 congressional districts across 15 states, is the nation\u2019s largest body of water to receive no dedicated federal funding\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. (November 18, 2025) \u2013 Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) led introduction of the Ohio River Restoration Program Act with Reps. Erin Houchin (IN-09), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Mike Rulli (OH-06), and Mark Messmer (IN-08) to fund the economic and environmental restoration of the Ohio River.\n\nThe bipartisan coalition of Members represents districts throughout the Ohio River Basin, which spans 55 congressional districts across 15 states. The Ohio serves as a source of drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, and its ecosystem is vital to local economies and industries, generating more than 500,000 jobs and $21 billion in wages.\n\nNationwide, more than a third of the United States\u2019 waterborne commerce travels through the Ohio River \u2013 $43 billion in commodities annually \u2013 yet the Ohio River is still the nation\u2019s largest body of water without any dedicated federal funding. The bill would dedicate up to $350 million in federal investments to the large-scale restoration of the Ohio River Basin, using initiatives similar to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which resulted in more than $3 in return on every federal dollar invested in the program.\n\n\u201cThe Ohio River is an economic engine that powers industries and supports billions in nationwide commerce, but at home in the River City, it\u2019s our lifeblood \u2013 it\u2019s the water we drink, it\u2019s the way we make a living, it\u2019s a place to keep traditions alive and find community with our neighbors,\u201d said Congressman McGarvey. \u201cAnd yet, our local communities who rely on it most and have helped sustain this vital resource for years still haven't gotten a dime in dedicated federal funding to properly protect and restore this critical resource right in our backyard. The Ohio River has been overlooked for far too long, and it\u2019s time for it to get the attention and investment it deserves.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Ohio River is critical to our way of life in Southern Indiana,\u201d said Rep. Houchin. \u201cIt strengthens our economy, supports our farmers and manufacturers, and provides drinking water for millions of families. Communities along the Ohio have invested in protecting this resource for generations, and it is time for the federal government to become a real partner in those efforts. I am proud to coauthor this bipartisan bill that will help restore the river, protect public health, and strengthen the economic future of the entire region.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Ohio River is a lifeline for so many communities in Pennsylvania\u2019s 17th Congressional District,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cFrom drinking water, to commerce and recreation, and more\u2014our prosperity relies on a clean and healthy Ohio River. There\u2019s a lot of good work happening to help improve the resilience and livability of our river\u2014but not a lot of funding to get things done. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Ohio River Restoration Program Act to dedicate resources to help protect and restore the Ohio River for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy district is home to both the Lake Erie and Ohio River watersheds. We know how vital clean water is for our communities, our economy, and our health,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead the Ohio River Restoration Program Act, which will provide resources to restore water infrastructure while protecting the environment. This legislation ensures the Ohio River remains a thriving resource for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to co-lead this vital legislation and thank Rep. McGarvey for introducing it,\u201d said Rep. Rulli. \u201cFor generations, the Ohio River has served as the backbone of Ohio\u2019s 6th Congressional District and an economic lifeline for our nation, playing a crucial role in settling America and building us into an economic powerhouse. This restoration program is a smart investment that will restore abundant fish and wildlife while keeping the river clean and healthy for future generations.\u201d\n\n\"The Ohio River Basin is essential to not only the health of thousands of Hoosier residents, but to the vitality of southern Indiana's agricultural and industrial communities,\u201d said Rep. Messmer. \u201cThe conservation network in Indiana's 8th Congressional District has worked tirelessly to preserve access to recreation within the basin and reinforce existing ecosystems. I am proud to bolster their investments in one of America's most impactful watersheds by supporting the Ohio River Basin Restoration Program Act.\"\n\nThe Ohio River Restoration Program Act would create a federal office within the Environmental Protection Agency to guide a restoration plan in coordination with states, local governments, interstate compact agencies, tribal nations, and non-governmental organizations that includes:\n\nhabitat restoration, farm conservation, and invasive species control and management;\n\npollution prevention and clean water protection;\n\nrobust monitoring, data collection, and evaluation;\n\nlocal workforce development and training for jobs in water protection and restoration;\n\ninput from the local public to hold elected officials accountable and ensure that residents have a seat at the table in restoration decisions;\n\nguaranteed clean, safe, and affordable water for local homeowners regardless of economic status; and\n\ninvestments in local communities at particular risk of extreme storms, flooding, and pollution.\n\nThe Ohio River Restoration Program Act is endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation, Ohio River Basin Alliance, American Rivers Action Fund, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, American Sportfishing Association, Audubon, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Appalachian Citizens' Law Center (ACLC), Indiana Wildlife Federation , Friends of the Riverfront, Kentucky Riverkeeper, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Ohio River Way, Thomas More University Biology Field Station, Wilderness Louisville, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Pristine River Initiatives, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District , Greenbrier River Watershed Association, Three Rivers Waterkeeper, PennFuture, Friends of Bell Smith Springs, River Fields, EnviroKinecs, Inc., Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Hoosier Environmental Council, Allegheny CleanWays, Kentucky Resources Council, Ohio River Foundation, SWCA Environmental Consultants, Appalachian Voices, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, UpstreamPgh, Ohio Environmental Council, Lower Wabash Partnership, Friends of the White River, Lewis and Clark Trust, Inc., Muncie Indiana Sanitary District\u2019s Bureau of Water Quality, Clark-Floyd Counties Convention & Tourism Bureau in Indiana, Ohio Conservation Federation, Ohio Water Partnership, Beaver Creek Hydrology (BCH), Kentucky Ecological Restoration Association (KERA), Mill Creek Alliance, Watersheds of South Pittsburgh, Kentucky Conservation Committee, Indiana Parks Alliance, Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.\n\n###\n\nCongressman Morgan McGarvey represents Kentucky\u2019s Third Congressional District, including Louisville and Jefferson County. He serves on the House Veterans Affairs, Small Business, and Budget Committees.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mcgarvey.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-members-of-congress-launch-federal-push-to-fund-ohio-river-restoration"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.017278991639614, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}