[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 72 Referred in House (RFH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 72


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 8, 2008

              Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Supporting the goals and ideals of the International Year of 
                              Sanitation.

Whereas at the 55th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2000, the 
        United States, along with other world leaders, committed to achieving 
        the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which provide a framework for 
        countries and international organizations to combat such global social 
        ills as poverty, hunger, and disease;
Whereas one target of the Millennium Development Goals is to halve by 2015 the 
        proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic 
        sanitation, the only target to be codified into United States law, in 
        the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121);
Whereas the lack of access to safe water and sanitation is one of the most 
        pressing environmental public health issues in the world;
Whereas over 1,000,000,000 people live without potable water, and an estimated 
        2,600,000,000 people, including 980,000,000 children, do not have access 
        to basic sanitation facilities;
Whereas every 20 seconds, a child dies as a direct result of a lack of access to 
        basic sanitation facilities;
Whereas only 36 percent of people in sub-Saharan Africa and 37 percent of people 
        in South Asia have access to safe drinking water and sanitation, the 
        lowest rates in the world;
Whereas at any one time, almost half of the people in the developing world are 
        suffering from diseases associated with lack of water, sanitation, and 
        hygiene;
Whereas improved sanitation decreases the incidences of debilitating and deadly 
        maladies such as cholera, intestinal worms, diarrhea, pneumonia, 
        dysentery, and skin infections;
Whereas sanitation is the foundation of health, dignity, and development;
Whereas increased sanitation is fundamental for reaching all of the Millennium 
        Development Goals;
Whereas access to basic sanitation helps economic and social development in 
        countries where poor sanitation is a major cause of lost work and school 
        days because of illness;
Whereas sanitation in schools enables children, particularly girls reaching 
        puberty, to remain in the educational system;
Whereas according to the World Health Organization, every dollar spent on proper 
        sanitation by governments generates an average $7 in economic benefit;
Whereas improved disposal of human waste protects the quality of water sources 
        used for drinking, preparation of food, agriculture, and bathing;
Whereas at the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2006, the 
        United Nations declared 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation to 
        recognize the progress made in achieving the global sanitation target 
        detailed in the Millennium Development Goals, as well as to call upon 
        all member states, United Nations agencies, regional and international 
        organizations, civil society organizations, and other relevant 
        stakeholders to renew their commitment to attaining that target;
Whereas the official launching of the International Year of Sanitation at the 
        United Nations was on November 21, 2007; and
Whereas the thrust of the International Year of Sanitation has three parts, 
        including raising awareness of the importance of sanitation and its 
        impact on reaching other Millennium Development Goals, encouraging 
        governments and its partners to promote and implement policies and 
        actions for meeting the sanitation target, and mobilizing communities, 
        particularly women's groups, towards changing sanitation and hygiene 
        practices through sanitation health-education campaigns: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of the International Year 
        of Sanitation;
            (2) recognizes the importance of sanitation on public 
        health, poverty reduction, economic and social development, and 
        the environment; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the International Year of Sanitation with appropriate 
        recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to 
        demonstrate the importance of sanitation, hygiene, and access 
        to safe drinking water in achieving the Millennium Development 
        Goals.

            Passed the Senate May 7, 2008.

            Attest:

                                                NANCY ERICKSON,

                                                             Secretary.