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“SENATOR PAUL SIMON WATER FOR THE WORLD ACT OF 2013” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1760 on Dec. 9, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SENATOR PAUL SIMON WATER FOR THE WORLD ACT OF 2013
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speech of
HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL
of new york
in the house of representatives
Monday, December 8, 2014
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Mr. Blumenauer and Mr. Poe for their hard work on H.R. 2901, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation, and was pleased to work closely with the bill's sponsors and Chairman Royce to bring the bill through our Foreign Affairs Committee and onto the floor today.
This legislation enjoys broad support from a coalition of nearly 80 civil society groups that are dedicated to developing access to clean water around the world, and it has more than 100 bipartisan cosponsors in the House.
Congress has long been committed to making the United States a global leader in improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. America and its international partners have provided clean water to millions of the world's poorest people. This investment has saved countless lives, but there is much more work to be done.
More than 750 million people still lack access to clean water. Twenty percent of the global population remains dependent on water that is either polluted or drastically overdrawn. Two and a half billion do not have proper sanitation facilities. Nearly 1 in every 5 deaths among children under age 5 are caused by water-related diseases, and 3.4 million people die from inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene every year. These problems are not merely social injustices but pose a significant obstacle to security and economic prosperity across wide regions of the world.
This bill will make our existing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs more effective by establishing priorities and focusing on areas with the greatest need and the most potential. It will enhance oversight and coordination by requiring the designation of a Global Water Coordinator at USAID and a Global Water Advisor at the Department of State, and it will update strategic planning by calling for an improved Global Water Strategy. These changes will enhance the investments we are already making through USAID and the Department of State.
Through these steps, H.R. 2901 will help ensure that our water development programs continue to save lives and improve health for millions of people in need around the world. I encourage my colleagues to support this important bill and hope the other body will give this legislation the expedited consideration it deserves.
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