Ohio River Restoration Program Act
Sponsored By: Representative McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
In Committee
Summary
Creates a dedicated Ohio River Basin Restoration Program inside the EPA to coordinate and fund large restoration, resilience, and water-quality projects across the Ohio River Basin. It focuses on nature-based and non-structural solutions to restore hydrologic and ecological functions and to improve drinking water, flood resilience, habitat, invasive species control, toxic cleanup, recreation, monitoring, and public outreach.
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- Families and local communities gain support for cleaner drinking water, safer flood and storm resilience, and expanded public recreation and access across the basin.
- State, Tribal, local governments, nonprofits, universities, and individuals can receive grants or contracts to carry out prioritized projects and will be represented on a required advisory council.
- The EPA will house an Ohio River National Program Office led by a Program Director who must set actionable goals within 1 year, deliver a multi-year action plan within 2 years, and include a separate budget line for the program in EPA budget submissions.
*Authorizes $350 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal funding for Ohio River Restoration
If enacted, the bill would authorize $350 million per year for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030 for the Ohio River Basin Restoration Program. The EPA Administrator would be allowed to transfer funds to other federal agencies with their concurrence and to enter interagency agreements. EPA would have to list the program as a separate budget line in its annual budget request. These are authorizations; Congress would still need to appropriate the money.
Grants for local river restoration
If enacted, the Program Director would be able to award grants and contracts to states, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, colleges, and individuals. Grants would fund planning, design, implementation, or construction of projects that improve water quality, drinking water, flood resilience, habitat, invasive species control, toxic remediation, recreation, monitoring, or outreach. Projects would need to follow the action plan, favor natural and non‑structural solutions, and be compatible with Corps navigation and disaster risk‑reduction infrastructure. Project selection would use criteria like equitable distribution, measurable environmental outcomes, and prompt feasibility, in collaboration with the advisory council.
New Ohio River Program Office
If enacted, the bill would create an Ohio River National Program Office inside the EPA. The EPA Administrator would appoint a Program Director to lead the office. The Director would coordinate EPA actions, develop and update the basin restoration program, and post program information on a public website. The Director would also work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to consult Tribal governments and organizations.
Ohio River action plan and council
If enacted, the Program Director would set measurable goals within 1 year and publish a full action plan within 2 years. The action plan must describe existing federal, state, tribal, and regional programs, recommend ways to leverage them, include multi‑year objectives and monitoring, and may list project timelines and costs. The Director must consult an advisory council with State, basin‑region, Tribal, and Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission representatives. The plan would be updated at least every 5 years with public notice and comment, and annual reports would go to Congress and be posted online.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Cosponsors
Messmer
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
Mrvan
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
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Latta
OH • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
OH • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Turner (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 3/19/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov