Press Releases

Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2) introduced an amendment Wednesday to increase Decontamination and Decommission (D&D) cleanup funds by $15 million for the ongoing project at the Portsmouth Plant in Piketon, which he represents in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Joined by Congressmen Bill Johnson and Steve Stivers, the Southern Ohio representatives worked to keep the federal government’s commitment to cleaning up Cold War contamination. Ultimately, the amendment failed by a vote of 112-309.

“Pike County, and the region, is held hostage and unable to develop their economy and their land until the cleanup is complete” Wenstrup said on the House floor.

“After decades of supporting our nation in the Cold War, we can’t let the federal government abandon its commitment to cleaning up the facility in Piketon and risk so many jobs.”

The amendment would redirect $15 million to the ongoing D&D efforts from administrative and other energy accounts in the annual Energy and Water spending bill. Wenstrup indicated he would vote against the final bill, noting that he could not support legislation that leaves the cleanup process so underfunded.