WASHINGTON — Rep. Morgan McGarvey and Rep. Erin Houchin not only represent communities on opposite sides of the Ohio River, they’re from opposing political parties.
“I’m proud to say that it is only the Ohio River itself that divides us on this topic,” McGarvey, a Democrat representing Louisville, said Wednesday at a news conference along the river.
As co-chairs of the bipartisan Ohio River Basin Congressional Caucus, they’re pushing for federal funding to restore and protect the waterway.
They gathered input at a listening session in Louisville.
“From waste and erosion to pollution to climate change, our river is facing problems, and these problems are not going to fix themselves,” said McGarvey. “The Ohio River is the largest body of water in the entire country that doesn’t receive a single dime in dedicated federal funding.”
McGarvey said he is working on legislation that he views as a legacy project dedicated to protecting and preserving the river.
“It sustains over 25 million Americans across a total of 14 states, providing essential drinking water, supporting countless jobs and nurturing our region’s ecosystem,” said Houchin, a Republican from Indiana. “Yet, despite its significance, in 2023, the Ohio River was recognized as the second most endangered river in the country.”
The Ohio River Basin Alliance and its partners have been working on a strategy to restore the basin.
They expect to release it in the next few weeks and will be seeking public comment on it, according to the alliance.