WASHINGTON, D.C. — The bipartisan Ohio River Restoration Program Act will clean up and protect one of the nation's most important waterways  with resources to restore wildlife habitat, improve flood resilience, and clean up pollution that contaminates drinking water.

"This bill can be a game-changer for the 30 million people who depend on the waters of the Ohio River region for their drinking water, health, jobs, and quality of life," said Jordan Lubetkin, director of the recently launched Healthy Waters Coalition. "Serious threats to local waters, such as toxic pollution, sewage contamination, and flooding, need to be addressed now, before the problems get worse and more expensive to solve. This bill, when passed, will benefit people and wildlife alike."

“The Ohio River is an economic engine that powers industries and supports billions in nationwide commerce, but at home in the River City, it’s our lifeblood – it’s the water we drink, it’s the way we make a living, it’s a place to keep traditions alive and find community with our neighbors,” said Congressman McGarvey. “And 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’s time for it to get the attention and investment it deserves.”

“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 legislation, being introduced by U.S. Reps. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) and Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.), co-chairs of the bipartisan Ohio River Basin Caucus, would establish a non-regulatory restoration program – the first-ever national program dedicated to the Ohio River basin – authorizing $350 million to go toward clean up and restoration in the Ohio River and the rivers that feed it. Resulting projects will improve drinking water sources, flood risk, and recreational opportunities across a region stretching from Pittsburgh to Northern Alabama.

The interconnected streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands of the Ohio River region face widespread and chronic pollution.

1. Nearly 69% of assessed streams and 64% of assessed lakes in the region do not meet state water quality standards — with pollutants including mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, bacteria, and nutrients.
2. Nearly every state in the region has issued advisories restricting fish consumption on streams, rivers, or lakes due to contaminants such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, certain pesticides, dioxins, and PFAS “forever chemicals.”
3. There are at least 146 Superfund sites in the Ohio River Basin — some of these toxic waste sites are already contaminating water supplies.

The Ohio River region includes portions of 15 states, including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, and West Virginia, as well as two federally recognized Tribal Nations, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Seneca Nation of Indians.

The National Wildlife Federation has been leading a multi-stakeholder workgroup, in collaboration with the Ohio River Basin Alliance, to craft a plan to restore and protect the waters of the Ohio River Basin with the goal of securing federal investments to address the many threats to public health and local economies, from toxic pollution to sewage contamination. This legislation would restore wildlife habitat, curb runoff pollution, and combat invasive species.

Every year, Congress supports efforts to conserve and restore great waters, including the Chesapeake Bay, Florida Everglades, Great Lakes, Gulf Coast, Puget Sound, and others. The National Wildlife Federation is elevating Ohio River Basin restoration and protection as a national priority on par with other existing popular and successful restoration programs.

Learn more about our Ohio River work at nwf.org/ohioriver.