VICTORY ON THE HUDSON: CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN’S BILL TO PERMANENTLY BAN BARGES ON THE HUDSON RIVER SIGNED INTO LAW

Victory on the Hudson: Congressman Pat Ryan's Bill to Permanently Ban Barges on the Hudson River Signed into Law

After years of relentless advocacy by Congressman Ryan, bipartisan lawmakers, and local advocates, the "Hudson River Protection Act" - which permanently bans harmful, polluting barges from docking in the Hudson River - has been signed into law

Ryan first introduced the bill in 2023 following attempts to erode protections against dangerous barges anchoring in the Hudson, contaminating drinking water for Hudson Valley residents and destroying the environment

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, after years of relentless advocacy by Congressman Ryan, bipartisan elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels, and community experts and advocates, Ryan's "Hudson River Protection Act" has been signed into law.

Ryan first introduced the "Hudson River Protection Act" in 2023, following attempts to erode protections preventing harmful, polluting barges from using the Hudson River as a parking lot - threatening to contaminate drinking water for more than 100,000 Hudson Valley residents and destroy the environment.

"If there's one thing we can all agree on it's making sure our drinking water is clean and that our Hudson River is safe and protected. For far too long, big corporations have polluted and put at risk our precious River in pursuit of profits. But not anymore. The Hudson is more than a river - it's the lifeblood and the heartbeat of our community," said Congressman Pat Ryan. "Today marks the culmination of years of effort by every single member of our Hudson Valley community. I especially want to thank my partners at Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson for their tireless work and commitment to protecting the Hudson. Never again will big corporations be able to turn our River into a parking lot for dangerous barges, polluting the drinking water for 100,000 of our neighbors. This victory proves that when the Hudson Valley stands up with one voice to demand change, we can accomplish anything."

"The Hudson River has faced serious ecological challenges for decades, and this law makes clear that our towns, homeowners, and riverfront communities come first. I was proud to help get this across the finish line and signed into law to safeguard the Hudson River for generations to come," said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

"Ships and barges carrying crude oil and other dangerous cargo along the Hudson pose an immense risk to the communities who rely on the river for their drinking water, livelihoods, and recreation. They're also a serious threat to local fish and aquatic life, whose habitat would be destroyed if a spill happens. The Hudson River Protection Act is a major step forward in the years-long effort to block new anchorages and safeguard this irreplaceable resource. We are grateful to Congressman Ryan, our partners, and elected leaders for taking action," said Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan.

"More than 10,000 New Yorkers spoke up with Riverkeeper when the U.S. Coast Guard proposed new anchorage sites for large tankers and barges - threatening irreplaceable wildlife habitat and the drinking water for over 100,000 New Yorkers. The Hudson River Protection Act's passage in both the House and Senate is a direct result of that public outcry," said Riverkeeper Associate Director of Government Affairs Jeremy Cherson."Riverkeeper thanks Congressman Ryan for being a steadfast champion for the river and for advancing this legislation over multiple years. This bill sends a clear message that the Hudson River is no longer open for industrial exploitation."

"The Hudson 7 is an intermunicipal council representing seven mid-Hudson municipalities that rely on the Hudson River as a drinking water source for more than 100,000 people in Ulster and Dutchess Counties, and that responsibility demands a precautionary approach to the siting and regulation of activities on the Hudson River," said Gary Bassett, Mayor of the Village of Rhinebeck and Chair of the Hudson 7. "While the Hudson 7 will continue to closely monitor activities that could threaten our drinking water supplies or the river's critical habitat, today we thank Congressman Ryan for his sustained leadership in advancing the Hudson River Protection Act."

Congressman Ryan's "Hudson River Protection Act" will ban additional barge anchorages in the Hudson, which pollute the drinking water for more than 100,000 Hudson Valley residents and damage the Hudson's diverse ecosystem.

In 2023, when the Coast Guard issued an Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) signaling an attempt to erode protections preventing commercial vessels from anchoring in the Hudson River, Ryan immediately raised the alarm, warning of devastating environmental and health impacts for the river ecosystem and broader community.

After a more than two month delay, Michael Emerson, the Director of Marine Transportation Systems, provided a woefully insufficient responsethat left the door open for dangerous oil barges to line the Hudson.

In October of 2023, Ryan was joined by Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and the Hudson 7 in demanding the Coast Guarduphold the anchoring ban. Ryan gave a speech on the House Floor, calling on Hudson Valley families to join the fightand shared a form for those interested to register their opinion. The new MSIB, issued in November 2023 in response to overwhelming community outrage, temporarily paused the Coast Guard's plan to allow dangerous barges to line the Hudson River but doubles down on their plan to allow unlimited anchoring in the future.

Congressman Ryan's greatest concern has been that the Hudson River serves as the primary water supply for seven communities in his district, and serves as the backup drinking water supply for our nation's largest city, New York City. Additionally, more oil barges on the Hudson will increase the risks of a catastrophic spill. This is especially concerning for the more than 100,000 people that draw their drinking water from the Hudson River.

Barges often carry oil, asphalt, and other hazardous materials, which pollute the river with their noisy generators and "stadium" lighting. The Hudson River and its connected waters are also home to more than 200 species of fish and provide spawning and nursery habitat for striped bass, shad, and herring that support fisheries up and down the entire Atlantic coast. The River has seen significant efforts to restore the habitats of endangered fish species which are jeopardized by barge anchors dragging along the River bottom.

President Trump signed the "Hudson River Protection Act" into law as part of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), wherein Congressman Ryan secured numerous other wins including a pay raise for troops.

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