Blumenauer and shaw bring focus on water for poor

On April 25, 2005, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D, OR) and Representative E. Clay Shaw (R, FL) introduced H.R.1973, the Water for Poor Act. The bipartisan bill strengthens American efforts to increase access to safe water and sanitation in the developing world. A companion bill (S.492) was introduced in the Senate by Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

If enacted, the Water for the Poor Act would amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make increasing access to safe water and sanitation, in an affordable and equitable way, a major purpose of United States foreign assistance efforts. It expresses the policy that the United States needs to increase the amount of funds available for water and sanitation, supports innovative funding mechanisms, greater international coordination, and better integration of water and sanitation into other development efforts.

It also focuses American efforts to meet President Bush’s commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goal of cutting in half the percentage of people without access to water and sanitation by 2015. It does this by making increased access to clean water and sanitation a specific objective of U.S. foreign assistance programs, setting out ways to do so in line with American compassion and commitment to the world’s poor, and requiring a strategy to meet specific benchmarks and timetables.

One child dies every 15 seconds from lack of access to clean water and sanitation; up to 5 million people die each year. 1 in 6 people in the world – over 1.1 billion people – lack access to clean water and 1 in 3 people – over 2.3 billion people – don’t have access to adequate sanitation. 80% of all disease in the developing world is related to the lack of access to safe water and sanitation and at any given time. And, as half of the people in the developing world suffer from a water-related disease, the lack of access to water and sanitation is a major barrier to fighting poverty and increasing economic productivity.

Clearly this legislation represents a significant step towards bringing the focus on the needs of our global community. House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde has pledged to bring H.R.1973 before his committee and seek its consideration on the floor. Citizens for Global Solutions urges the Chairman to keep his promise and support legislation that has the potential to do so much, for so many.

 

Updated July 5, 2005