June 19, 2012
WaterAid celebrates Senate Foreign Relations Committee passage of Water for the World Act
Washington, DC - WaterAid welcomes the news that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has passed the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2011 (S.641).
Children collecting water from a polluted pond in Ghana.
WaterAid / Brent Stirton
“This is a huge step towards getting the Water for the World Act signed
into law. We at WaterAid are thrilled to see the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee’s commitment to helping provide access to safe water
and sanitation for all,” said David Winder, CEO of WaterAid in America.
Dr. Winder was one of many chief executives of non-governmental organizations that work to tackle the global water crisis to sign a letter to Members of Congress urging their support for their bill:
Led
by Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Corker (R-TN), the Water for the World
Act would strengthen implementation of the 2005 law, the Senator Paul
Simon Water for the Poor Act, and build upon successful US government
programs to provide safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene
promotion in developing countries.
This is critical momentum for the billions of people currently living without access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
- Lisa Schechtman, Head of Policy & Advocacy, WaterAid, America
In particular, it would increase the focus on the world’s poorest communities, solidify US government expertise and capacity to implement the programs, and expand partnerships worldwide. In December of last year, a companion bill of the same name (H.R. 3658) was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Blumenauer (D-OR) and Poe (R-TX).
“This is critical momentum for the billions of people currently living without access to safe drinking water and sanitation,” said Lisa Schechtman, Head of Policy and Advocacy for WaterAid in America. “Water for the World would improve the US response to these crises by making better use of existing investments, increasing transparency and evaluation of programs, and ensuring the people most in need are being reached. This represents the best of US foreign assistance.”
The Water for the World Act recognizes the importance of global partnerships in leveraging the human and financial resources of the US government, so that the greatest impact is seen without spending additional money. Building on bipartisan support that resulted in passage of the Water for the Poor Act in 2005, Water for the World continues a long-standing tradition of US government support for meeting the most basic of needs for all people worldwide. WaterAid calls on the full Senate to quickly pass the bill, and for the House Foreign Affairs Committee to follow suit.
For further information or interviews, please contact: Susannah Gold, WaterAid, on + 1 917 207 5375 or
sgold@wateraidamerica.org