WASHINGTON — The Senate unanimously passed the Paul Simon Water for the World Act Monday morning. The legislation significantly improves access to clean water and sanitation around the world. In the Senate the Water for the World Act was sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin, (D-Ill.) and Sen. Bob Corker, (R-Tenn.) and co-sponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) The bill heads to the Oval Office to be signed into law by President Obama.
“Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services sickens and kills thousands of children every day, and leads to poverty across the globe,” Durbin said. “But this is no longer simply a global health and development issue— it’s a long-term problem that increasingly threatens our national security. The Senate agreed unanimously and passed this legislation today and I hope the President will quickly sign it before the crisis reaches a devastating tipping point.”
Nearly 750 million people live without access to clean potable water and nearly 2.5 billion have limited access to basic sanitation. Population and economic growth put increasing tension on global water resources, particularly in developing nations. Water security is no longer an isolated issue, but one that is linked to regional tensions, global health, child and maternal mortality and human security.
The Water for the World Act will better utilize current infrastructure and funding including the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) funds and does so without building new bureaucracy or new funding. Additionally it maintains WASH a policy priority while improving its functions and sharpening criteria that indicate the at-risk countries where limited funding will be allocated.
The Borgen Project, a major proponent of this bill, is a national campaign that battles poverty around the world through collaborating with U.S. leaders to improve their response to the global poverty crisis considers the passing of this bill a win.
The Borgen Project’s Program Manager Dayna Emmons offered comments on the work the organization has put forth in efforts to pass this bill: “The passing of the Water for the World Act was a huge win and a great way to top off the year,” said Emmons. “Our team has worked really hard on this legislation throughout the year and we are incredibly appreciative of all their hard work, and of the congressional offices that supported this bill.”
Sources: U.S. Senate, Water Aid
Photo: Gallery Hip
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