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119-hr-5966119th CongressWALLET
Ohio River Restoration Program Act
Sponsored By: Representative McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
In Committee
Summary
This bill would create the Ohio River Basin Restoration Program inside the Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate large-scale restoration across the Ohio River Basin and set clear goals, public reporting, and grant funding. It also requires a national program office, a Program Director, and an advisory council to guide a multi-year action plan.
Show full summary
- Families and local communities would benefit from projects that target cleaner drinking water, more flood and storm resilience through natural-system restoration, and expanded public access and recreation.
- Tribal governments and Tribal organizations would get formal consultation and representation on the advisory council, with engagement coordinated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to ensure Tribal needs influence planning and projects.
- States, local governments, Tribes, nonprofits, and universities could receive grants or interagency transfers to plan, design, and implement projects. The Program Director must use criteria that promote geographic equity, measurable environmental outcomes, economic benefits, and reduced duplication while coordinating with other federal projects.
*Authorizes $350.0 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the program, increasing federal outlays over that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for Ohio River Projects
If enacted, the program would make grants and interagency transfers to carry out water, habitat, and resilience projects across the Ohio River Basin. Money could pay for planning, design, implementation, and construction for drinking water, water quality, floodplain restoration, habitat, invasive species control, toxic cleanup, monitoring, and public outreach. Eligible recipients would include States, Tribes, local governments, nonprofits, colleges, and qualified individuals. Projects would be chosen with the advisory council using criteria that favor fair geographic distribution, measurable outcomes, local economic benefits, prompt starts, and reduced duplication. Projects must prioritize nature‑based solutions when practical and must not harm navigation or disaster‑risk infrastructure; transfers to other federal agencies would require concurrence.
New EPA Ohio River Office
If enacted, this bill would create an Ohio River Basin Restoration Program office at the EPA led by a Program Director. The director would need to set measurable goals within 1 year and an action plan within 2 years, and update them at least every 5 years. EPA would be required to post the plan and annual reports online, facilitate Tribal consultation, and include the program as a separate budget line. The bill would authorize $350 million per year for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030 (total $1.75 billion).
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8]
IN • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
IN • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
OH • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
WV • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
OH • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10]
OH • R
Sponsored 3/19/2026
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov