Indiana, Kentucky representatives push for federal funding to restore Ohio River

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Bipartisan members of Congress are working to restore the Ohio River.

A coalition of members from districts throughout the Ohio River Basin, spanning 15 states, is pushing for federal funding through the Ohio River Restoration Program Act.

The Ohio River serves as a source of drinking water, generates more than 500,000 jobs, and is used for more than a third of the United States' river-based commerce travel, accounting for $43 billion in commodities annually.

However, it's still the nation's largest body of water without any dedicated federal funding.

"The Ohio River is critical to our way of life in southern Indiana," Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Indiana's Ninth District, said in a news release. "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."

The coalition's bill would direct up to $350 million for a large-scale restoration project of the Ohio River Basin, modeled after the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

"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," Kentucky Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Kentucky's Third District, said in a news release. "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."

It would also create a federal office within the Environmental Protection Agency to work on a restoration plan with states and local governments.

The legislation was introduced by Houchin and McGarvey,with support from other representatives in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

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