[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 782 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 782

Affirming the commitments made by the United States at the World Summit 
 on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, to improve 
 worldwide access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 21, 2004

     Mr. Blumenauer (for himself, Mr. Shays, Mr. George Miller of 
   California, Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Udall of Colorado) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                       on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Affirming the commitments made by the United States at the World Summit 
 on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, to improve 
 worldwide access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation services.

Whereas the World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg, 
        South Africa, from August 26 to September 4, 2002;
Whereas the United States committed itself to the Johannesburg Plan of 
        Implementation at the World Summit on Sustainable Development;
Whereas the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation included the goal of halving the 
        proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking 
        water and the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation 
        services by 2015;
Whereas between 2,000,000 and 5,000,000 people die each year due to lack of 
        access to clean water and adequate sanitation;
Whereas the need for more efficient water and sanitation systems will increase 
        rapidly as the world's population is expected to reach 9,000,000,000 by 
        2050, with developing nations experiencing the most severe effects of 
        water scarcity, poverty, and population growth;
Whereas, although the percentage of people with access to clean water increased 
        from 77 percent in 1990 to 83 percent in 2002 and the percentage of 
        people with access to basic sanitation services increased from 49 
        percent to 58 percent during the same period, in 2002, 1,100,000,000 
        people lacked access to safe drinking water and 2,600,000,000 people 
        lacked access to basic sanitation services;
Whereas between $70,000,000,000 and $80,000,000,000 is invested each year, 
        worldwide, to provide basic water and sanitation services;
Whereas an additional $60,000,000,000 to $80,000,000,000 per year is needed to 
        provide basic water and sanitation services for the world's population;
Whereas the United States announced the Water for the Poor Initiative at the 
        World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002;
Whereas the Water for the Poor Initiative committed the United States to 
        investing $510,000,000 over 3 years to improve worldwide access to clean 
        water and sanitation services; and
Whereas the vast majority of water aid does not go to the countries of greatest 
        need: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) affirms the commitments made by the United States at 
        the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, 
        South Africa, in 2002 to halve the proportion of people who are 
        unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and the 
        proportion of people without access to basic sanitation 
        services;
            (2) supports an increased effort to meet the commitments 
        made by the United States at the World Summit on Sustainable 
        Development;
            (3) calls upon all developed nations to join the United 
        States in its commitment to improving access to safe drinking 
        water and basic sanitation services;
            (4) shares the goals of the Water for the Poor Initiative, 
        announced by the United States at the World Summit on 
        Sustainable Development in 2002;
            (5) supports the targeting of United States water aid 
        towards the countries of greatest need and the communities in 
        which it can make the greatest impact; and
            (6) calls upon the President to report to Congress on the 
        progress made by the United States to meet the commitments 
        described in paragraph (1).
                                 <all>