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A RESOLUTION expressing support for the Ohio River Restoration Program Act 1
to advance clean water, economic development, community stability, and expanded 2
recreation opportunities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 3
WHEREAS, the Ohio River watershed spans 15 states and provides drinking water, 4
economic activity, and recreation for more than 30 million people, approximately one in 5
every 10 Americans; and 6
WHEREAS, 97 percent of Kentucky lies within the Ohio River basin, and the river 7
forms approximately 664 miles of the Commonwealth’s northern border, more than any 8
other state, making the health of the river and its tributaries essential to Kentucky 9
communities, infrastructure, and economic activity; and 10
WHEREAS, the Ohio River and its tributaries provide drinking water for millions 11
of Kentuckians and support the vast majority of the Commonwealth’s public water 12
systems; and 13
WHEREAS, the Ohio River basin underpins a substan tial portion of Kentucky’s 14
economy, supporting manufacturing, agriculture, energy production, and commercial 15
navigation that moves hundreds of millions of tons of cargo each year and sustains 16
thousands of jobs in the Commonwealth; and 17
WHEREAS, Kentucky’s o utdoor recreation and tourism economy, including 18
fishing, hunting, boating, paddling, and wildlife viewing, generates approximately 11.2 19
billion dollars annually in economic activity and supports thousands of jobs in river and 20
rural communities across the Commonwealth; and 21
WHEREAS, investments in watershed restoration across the United States have 22
consistently produced strong economic returns, with studies estimating three to six 23
dollars in economic benefits for every one dollar invested, and as much as 18 dollars in 24
benefits for every one dollar invested in flood resilience, through reduced water treatment 25
costs, increased tourism, improved infrastructure resilience, and enhanced property 26
values; and 27
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WHEREAS, the Ohio River basin provides critical natural i nfrastructure that 1
reduces flooding, supports fish and wildlife habitat, and strengthens the long -term 2
resilience of Kentucky communities facing increasing economic and environmental 3
challenges; and 4
WHEREAS, despite its importance, the Ohio River basin remains the largest 5
watershed in the United States without a dedicated federal restoration program, even as 6
similar initiatives in the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay have delivered substantial 7
economic, ecological, and public health benefits; and 8
WHEREAS, the federal Ohio River Restoration Program Act would establish the 9
Ohio River Basin Restoration Program to improve water quality, restore fish and wildlife 10
habitat, reduce flood risk, address invasive s pecies and toxic contamination, and expand 11
recreation, workforce development, and community revitalization across the basin; and 12
WHEREAS, the program would operate as a collaborative, nonregulatory 13
partnership, providing federal resources to support state, local, nonprofit, and 14
community-led restoration projects without creating new permitting requirements or 15
regulatory authorities; and 16
WHEREAS, Kentucky stands to benefit from coordinated restoration investments 17
through improved drinking water quality, lowe r water treatment costs, revitalized 18
riverfront communities, enhanced fisheries and wildlife habitat, expanded outdoor 19
recreation opportunities, and strengthened long -term economic development and 20
community stability; 21
NOW, THEREFORE, 22
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 23
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 24
Section 1. The House of Representatives hereby expresses its support for House 25
Resolution 5966 and Senate Bill 3796, the Ohio River Restoration Program Act, and 26
recognizes the importance of restoring and protecting the Ohio River Basin to safeguard 27
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Kentucky’s dri nking water, strengthen the Commonwealth’s economy, expand outdoor 1
recreation and tourism, and promote long -term prosperity and resilience for Kentucky 2
communities. 3
Section 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit a 4
copy of this Resolution to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the 5
Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and each member of the Kentucky 6
congressional delegation. 7