In regards to “River cleanup set for June 16: “River Sweep” highlights the strong local concern for the health of the Ohio River. For more than a decade, though, the Ohio River has been at risk of more pollution, thanks to two polluter-driven Supreme Court decisions. These decisions left 60 percent of Ohio’s streams at risk, including many that feed and clean the Ohio River. To make things worse, over 32 million pounds of toxic industrial waste were dumped into the Ohio River in 2010.

Unfortunately, just as President Obama is about to sign off on new protections for our waterways, Congress voted to keep many of Ohio’s waters inadequately protected by the Clean Water Act by blocking an amendment to the House Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (HR 5325) from Congressmen Jim Moran (Va.) and John Dingell (Mich.).

I am disappointed in Congressman Johnson and Congresswoman Schmidt for joining the “Dirty Water Gang” and voting against the Moran-Dingell amendment. I hope our Senators protect clean water by voting against attempts to weaken the Clean Water Act when the Energy and Water bill moves to the Senate.

Carly Cox

Environment Ohio