Marcy Kaptur

07/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/23/2026 12:14

Northwest Ohio Stands to Benefit as Water Resources Bills Advance in CongressPress ReleaseHouse Transportation and Infrastructure CommitteeSenate Environment and Public[...]

Washington, DC - Following the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approval of competing versions of legislation known as the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) released the following statement. These bipartisan bills-which must be reconciled into a final agreement before the end of the year if they are to become law-authorize the US Army Corps of Engineers to carry out flood control, waterway improvements, and other water-related infrastructure projects across the country in partnership with State and local governments.
"The WRDA bills passed at the committee level in Washington last week show what's possible when both parties work together," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). "I am grateful this legislation includes several provisions at my request that directly support our Northwest Ohio communities. This will help improve our water infrastructure, protect our environment, and strengthen recreation and economic vitality throughout Lake Erie's Western Basin, and our Freshwater Kingdom in the Great Lakes region."
Key provisions included in H.R. 9497, the House version of the legislation, as a result of Congresswoman Kaptur's efforts include:
  • Support for Toledo and Oregon Water Infrastructure (Lucas County). An additional $34.5 Million is authorized for the US Army Corps of Engineers to help the Cities of Toledo and Oregon upgrade water, wastewater, and stormwater systems-bringing the total authorized Federal support for these projects in law to $45 Million. A similar provision is included in the Senate version of the legislation (S. 4949) and the City of Toledo formally submitted a proposal for these infrastructure upgrades to the Army Corps last year.
  • New Wastewater System for Kelleys Island (Erie County). A $16 Million authorization would allow the US Army Corps of Engineers to design and build a new sanitary sewer system and treatment plant in cooperation with the Village of Kelleys Island. This would shift homes and businesses on Kelleys Island away from septic tanks, reducing risks to Lake Erie's water quality and public health as experienced with historic rainfall and flooding on the island earlier this month. This Federal investment would also support the island's tourism economy and residential community. The Senate bill does not contain a similar provision.
  • Full Federal Funding for the Dredging of Toussaint River Navigation Channel (Ottawa County). The bill authorizes the US Army Corps of Engineers to cover 100 percent of the cost of dredging the Toussaint River navigation channel in the future, lifting the financial burden from Carroll Township which under current Corps policy dating to 1989 is required to finance 28 percent of the dredging cost. This harbor has not been dredged since 2004. Congresswoman Kaptur's office has been working with Carroll Township Trustees, concerned citizens, and local residents in recent months to identify a solution to the financing and logistical challenges preventing dredging of this harbor. The Senate bill does not contain a similar provision.
  • Streamlined Partnerships for Reusing Dredged Material. The US Army Corps of Engineers would be given streamlined authority to work with local governments and nonprofit organizations in Ohio to create sites that reuse material dredged by the Corps from Ohio harbors for shoreline protection, habitat restoration, and other beneficial uses. This provision-which Congresswoman Kaptur authored and has been strongly advocating for in recent years-supports efforts to increase the share of dredged material put to constructive use around Lake Erie and helps resolve longstanding logistical challenges and capacity constraints with containing the large volume of material dredged from harbors in Lake Erie-namely in Toledo and Sandusky Harbors-needed to keep them navigable and open to commerce. The Army Corps has committed-at Congresswoman Kaptur's urging-to beneficially use at least 70% of dredged material by 2030. The Senate bill contains a related provision encouraging the Army Corps to coordinate with relevant stakeholders in Ohio to address the dredging and dredging placement needs for Toledo Harbor.
  • Study of the Maumee River Waterfront in Downtown Toledo (Glass City Riverwalk). The Corps would be authorized to work with Metroparks Toledo on a study to evaluate the feasibility and economic justification of constructing with up to 65% of Federal funding flood protection, riverbank stabilization, environmental improvements, and recreation opportunities along the Maumee River near downtown Toledo from the Anthony Wayne Bridge upriver toward Miami Street. The project is part of the overall initiative led by Metroparks Toledo to bring high-quality public greenspace, trails, and programs to downtown Toledo's riverfront neighborhoods, and was formally submitted last year by Metroparks Toledo to the Army Corps for consideration. The Senate bill includes a similar provision.
  • Doubling Funding for Great Lakes Restoration Projects. The bill raises the Federal funding cap for Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration (GLFER) projects from $10 Million to $20 Million per project. This change would allow two stalled projects to move forward-the Sandusky River seasonal grass carp barrier in Fremont (Sandusky County) to deter grass carp spawning estimated to cost $14.4 Million and habitat restoration for fish production with recreational elements at Towpath Park in Maumee (Lucas County) also estimated at full development to cost approximately $14 Million. The Senate bill does not contain a similar provision.
Additional provisions in the bill that Congresswoman Kaptur has worked to secure in partnership with other members representing the Great Lakes Region include a provision that authorizes $20 Million over the next four years for the Great Lakes Commission to advance water resource projects in the region and provisions that require the US Army Corps of Engineers to:
  • Provide Congress with information about contaminated sediment related to the carp barrier project at Brandon Road Dam in Illinois;
  • Complete its delayed report on recreational boating in the Great Lakes; and
  • Resolve a long-standing pay disparity for Federal employees who operate and maintain the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Soo Locks are a critical passageway for ships moving between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes-supporting the transport of nearly all America's domestic iron ore and other essential raw materials mined in Northern Minnesota and Michigan and shipped to steel mills along Lake Erie, including the Cleveland-Cliffs facilities in Ohio's 9th Congressional District and other plants that anchor Northwest Ohio's defense industrial and advanced manufacturing base. Congresswoman Kaptur has been a leading proponent for the modernization and expansion of the Soo Locks, a project now underway and slated for completion in 2030, which she visited last summer.
Finally, the Senate version of the legislation includes a provision reauthorizing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through 2030 at its current authorized funding level of $475 Million per year. This aligns with the separate legislation (H.R. 6422) that the House of Representatives passed on a strong bipartisan vote in March that reauthorizes GLRI through 2031 at the same funding level.
Since its initial authorization in 2010, GLRI-administered at the Federal level with leadership from the US Environmental Protection Agency-has driven unprecedented restoration efforts across the eight-state Great Lakes region. More than 8,000 projects have been completed using Federal, State, and local funding, creating a coordinated network of stakeholders working to restore and protect the world's largest freshwater ecosystem-efforts critical to US economic competitiveness, national security, and environmental sustainability. Ohio's 9th Congressional District ranks among the highest recipients of GLRI funding to date to clean up toxic substances and Areas of Concern.
"I will be working hard for the remainder of this Congress on this legislation-helping build bipartisan support to get it across the finish line, with the provisions that directly benefit our people and the places we call home. We've had a good start this summer through the committee stage of the process, and it is important the Senate embrace this legislation and the projects contained in the House bill for Northwest Ohio," added Congresswoman Kaptur.
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Marcy Kaptur published this content on July 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 23, 2026 at 18:14 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]