Bipartisan Members of Congress Launch Federal Push to Fund Ohio River Restoration

Friday, November 21, 2025 at 7:49 AM

By Travis Thayer @eagle993

The Ohio River Restoration Program Act would create a federal office within the EPA to guide the restoration plan.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09), along with Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), led introduction of the Ohio River Restoration Program Act with Reps. Mark Messmer (IN-08), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), and Mike Rulli (OH-06) to fund the restoration of the Ohio River.

The 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 resources are vital to local economies and industries, generating more than 500,000 jobs and $21 billion in wages.

Nationwide, more than a third of the United States’ river-based commerce travels on the Ohio River – accounting for $43 billion in commodities annually – yet the Ohio River is still the nation’s largest body of water without any dedicated federal funding. The bill would direct up to $350 million in federal investments to the large-scale restoration of the Ohio River Basin, using successful approaches similar to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

“The Ohio River is critical to our way of life in Southern Indiana,” said Rep. Houchin. “It 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.”

The Ohio River Restoration Program Act would create a federal office within the Environmental Protection Agency to guide a restoration plan in coordination with states and local governments.