United States Congress (Washington, DC)
1 August 2008
Washingon, DC — Today, the United States Senate passed H.Con.Res 318, supporting the goals and ideals of the United Nations' declaration of 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation. Introduced by Congressman Donald M. Payne and Senator Richard J. Durbin [D-IL], the concurrent resolution encourages the US government and other relevant stakeholders to recommit to helping developing countries obtain access to basic sanitation and safe drinking water.
Over 1 billion people currently live without potable water and an estimated 2.6 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation facilities, which includes 980 million children. Poor sanitation could lead to such maladies as cholera, intestinal worms, diarrhea, pneumonia, dysentery and skin infections. In 2000, the United States, along with other countries, committed to eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which provide a framework for countries and international organizations to combat such global ills as poverty, hunger and disease. Halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015 is a key element of the seventh Millennium Development Goal. The United States Congress, in 2005, enacted the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act which codified its support of this goal.
Representative Payne affirmed, "Sanitation is the foundation of health, dignity and progress. Economic and social development is its offshoot. It affects everything from a girl's ability to go to school to work productivity. Every dollar invested in sanitation translates to an average of $7.00 in economic benefit in developing countries."
"Access to safe drinking water is a right that everyone in the world ought to enjoy but too few are able to realize," Durbin said. "Water access is no longer simply a global health and development issue; it is increasingly becoming a national security issue. The United States needs to do much more to ensure that global water access is protected and expanded."
The United Nations launched the International Year of Sanitation on November 21, 2007. By declaring 2008 as its banner year for sanitation, the UN recognizes the progress made towards the MDG and calls on its agencies, member states and other relevant stakeholders to reaffirm its commitment to reaching the target. It will also use this year to raise awareness on the positive rippling effect of proper sanitation and mobilize communities towards changing sanitation practices through education campaigns.
"Access to clean, potable water and basic sanitation is integral to reaching other development targets," Payne stated. "If relevant stakeholders invest adequate financial and technological resources, improved sanitation is attainable. With this resolution, I hope the United States will renew its commitment to this Millennium Development Goal target and the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act."
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