SCR 19

As Adopted by the Senate
136th General Assembly
    Regular Session  S. C. R. No. 19
       2025-2026
  Senator Wilkin
Cosponsors: Senators Schaffer, Blackshear, Cirino, Craig, DeMora, Gavarone, Hicks-
 Hudson, Ingram, Johnson, Landis, Lang, Patton, Reineke, Roegner, Smith, Timken,
  Weinstein, Wilson
  A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
  To urge the Congress of the United States to enact the  1
  Ohio River Restoration Program Act to bring clean  2
  water, enhanced fish and aquatic wildlife, economic  3
  benefits, expanded recreation opportunities, and  4
  public health protections to Ohio.  5
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO (THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING):
     WHEREAS, The Ohio River is a major river in the United  6
States, with its watershed spanning 15 states and serving 30  7
million people; and  8
     WHEREAS, The Ohio River is 981 miles long and forms the  9
entire 451-mile southern border of Ohio; and  10
     WHEREAS, 40 of Ohio's streams and rivers, fed by hundreds  11
of tributaries, flow into the Ohio River; and  12
     WHEREAS, The Ohio River watershed covers approximately  13
29,750 square miles within Ohio, accounting for nearly 75% of  14
Ohio's total landmass and 14.5% of the entire Ohio River Basin's  15
drainage area; and  16
S. C. R. No. 19  Page 2
As Adopted by the Senate
      WHEREAS, The Ohio River is a massive economic driver for  17
Ohio, with maritime commerce generating billions of dollars in  18
business revenue, personal income, and transportation savings  19
annually. Cargo activity generates about $26.5 billion in total  20
economic value; and  21
      WHEREAS, Earth Economics found that the 68 million acres of  22
natural ecosystems in the Ohio River Basin provide at least $50  23
billion in public benefits annually and a projected value of  24
$1.17 trillion over 30 years; and  25
      WHEREAS, In 2023, the national nonprofit American Rivers  26
designated the Ohio River as America's second most endangered  27
river; and  28
      WHEREAS, Degradation of water quality, harmful algal  29
blooms, toxic contamination, failing infrastructure, and  30
flooding events pose signification risks to public health,  31
including threats to safe drinking water, increased exposure to  32
waterborne illness, and elevated risks of respiratory and other  33
chronic health conditions; and  34
      WHEREAS, Investments in water quality improvement,  35
watershed restoration, green infrastructure, and toxic  36
remediation will reduce public health risks, lower long-term  37
healthcare costs, strengthen community resilience to extreme  38
weather events, and improve overall quality of life for  39
residents throughout the Basin; and  40
      WHEREAS, H.R. 5966 has been introduced in the United States  41
House of Representatives and S. 3796 has been introduced in the  42
United States Senate, both with wide bipartisan support; and  43
      WHEREAS, H.R. 5966 and S. 3796 create the Ohio River Basin  44
Restoration Program to improve water quality, increase flood  45
resiliency, restore natural systems, protect and restore fish  46
and wildlife habitats, prevent and control invasive aquatic  47
S. C. R. No. 19  Page 3
As Adopted by the Senate
species, remediate toxic substances, improve public access and  48
recreation, and improve public outreach and education in the  49
Ohio River Basin; and  50
      WHEREAS, Ohio will benefit from an improved Ohio River and  51
its tributaries, including improved drinking water, economic  52
benefits to communities, infrastructure investments, enhanced  53
recreational opportunities, and measurable public health  54
protections; now therefore be it  55
      RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 136th General  56
Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge approval of H.R. 5966 and S.  57
3796, creating the Ohio River Restoration Program Act, to bring  58
clean water, enhanced fish and aquatic wildlife, economic  59
benefits, expanded recreation opportunities, and improved public  60
health protections to Ohio; and be it further  61
      RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly  62
authenticated copies of this resolution to the members of the  63
Ohio Congressional delegation.  64