[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2901 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2901
To strengthen implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005 by improving the capacity of the United States
Government to implement, leverage, and monitor and evaluate programs to
provide first-time or improved access to safe drinking water,
sanitation, and hygiene to the world's poorest on an equitable and
sustainable basis, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2013
Mr. Blumenauer (for himself, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Cole, Mr. Jones, Mr.
Ribble, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Smith of
New Jersey, Mr. Terry, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Schock, and Ms. Edwards)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To strengthen implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005 by improving the capacity of the United States
Government to implement, leverage, and monitor and evaluate programs to
provide first-time or improved access to safe drinking water,
sanitation, and hygiene to the world's poorest on an equitable and
sustainable basis, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Senator Paul Simon
Water for the World Act of 2013''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 4. Purpose.
Sec. 5. Improving coordination and oversight of safe water, sanitation,
and hygiene projects and activities.
Sec. 6. Increasing sustainability of safe water, sanitation, and
hygiene projects and activities.
Sec. 7. United States complimentary strategies to increase sustainable,
affordable, and equitable access to safe
water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Sec. 8. Transparency and monitoring and evaluation.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533)--
(A) makes access to affordable, equitable, and
sustainable clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for
developing countries a specific policy objective of
United States foreign assistance programs;
(B) requires the United States Government to--
(i) develop a strategy to elevate and
further the United States foreign policy and
foreign assistance objective to provide
affordable and equitable access to safe water,
sanitation, and hygiene in developing
countries; and
(ii) improve the effectiveness and
targeting of United States assistance programs
undertaken in support of that strategy;
(C) codifies Target 10 of the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals; and
(D) seeks to reduce by half between 1990 (the
baseline year) and 2015--
(i) the proportion of people who are unable
to reach or afford safe drinking water; and
(ii) the proportion of people without
access to basic sanitation.
(2) For maximum effectiveness of assistance, safe drinking
water, sanitation, and hygiene must be coordinated with and
reflected in programs and strategies for food security, global
health, environment, education, gender equality, and conflict
prevention and mitigation.
(3) On February 2, 2012, the United States national
intelligence community released a National Intelligence
Estimate on Global Water Security, which found that--
(A) over the next decade, countries of strategic
importance to the United States will experience water
shortages, poor water quality, or floods, that will
risk instability or state failure and increase regional
tensions;
(B) water problems may pose a risk to global food
markets and economic growth, and may harm the economic
performance of important trading partners;
(C) water stresses compound existing problems, such
as poverty, social tension, and ill-health and without
good management of water food supplies will be reduced
and water borne diseases will increase; and
(D) pressure will arise for a more engaged United
States to make water a global priority and to support
major development projects.
(4) On August 1, 2008, Congress passed House Concurrent
Resolution 318, which--
(A) supports the goals and ideals of the
International Year of Sanitation; and
(B) recognizes the importance of sanitation on
public health, poverty reduction, economic and social
development, and the environment.
(5) According to the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,
commissioned by the United Nations, more than one-fifth of the
world's population relies on freshwater sources that are either
polluted or excessively withdrawn. Healthy ecosystems provide
multiple water-related services, such as flood control and
water purification, upon which human security, health and well-
being depend. Therefore, measures aiming to maintain or restore
those services ensure the long-term sustainability of
strategies to secure safe and reliable access to water and
sanitation.
(6) While progress is being made on safe water and
sanitation efforts--
(A) more than 783,000,000 people throughout the
world lack access to safe drinking water; and
(B) approximately 35 percent of the total global
population does not have access to basic sanitation
services.
(7) A lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation
has disproportionate, and too often deadly impacts on children:
(A) Water and sanitation-related disease, despite
being preventable, remains one of the most significant
child health problems worldwide. Diarrhea is the most
serious of these diseases, alone killing over 3,000
children each day, and is the second biggest cause of
death in children in the post neonatal period, aged one
month to 5 years. Ninety percent of all people that die
from diarrheal disease are children under the age of 5.
Eighty-eight percent of diarrheal disease is attributed
to unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and
poor hygiene.
(B) Even when bouts of diarrhea don't kill, these
episodes can physically and mentally stunt children,
affecting them for the rest of their lives.
(C) Having adequate and appropriate water supply
and sanitation facilities in schools is a major factor
influencing whether children, and especially adolescent
girls, attend school.
(D) Adequate sanitation facilities and practices
contributes to reducing malnutrition in children,
improves the quality of life and dignity of girls and
women, protects the environment, and generates economic
benefits for communities and nations.
(8) The health and environmental consequences of unsafe
drinking water and poor sanitation are significant, accounting
for nearly 10 percent of the global burden of disease, and as
further indicated by the following:
(A) At any given time, half of the hospital beds in
developing countries are occupied by patients suffering
from diseases associated with lack of access to safe
drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and poor
hygiene.
(B) More than 3,575,000 people die each year from
water-related disease.
(C) Chronic or acute diarrhea can lead to cognitive
delays, with severe repercussions for economic
development.
(D) Lack of adequate sanitation contaminates rivers
worldwide, as one of the most significant sources of
water pollution. Every day, 2,000,000 tons of untreated
sewage and industrial and agricultural waste are
discharged into the world's freshwaters.
(9) Clean water and sanitation are among the most powerful
drivers for human development. They extend opportunity, enhance
dignity, and help create a virtuous cycle of improving health
and rising wealth.
(10) Diseases linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation,
as well as the time and energy women often devote to collecting
water, significantly reduce economic productivity in less
developed countries and promote lifecycles of disadvantage.
(11) Expanding access to clean water, sanitation, and
hygiene, while protecting the natural infrastructures that
store, deliver, and purify water for nature and people, are
essential steps in reducing the global burden of disease,
advancing sustainable economic and social development,
protecting basic human rights, preventing violence against
girls and women, and mitigating sources of conflict associated
with water scarcity, mass migration, and water related
disasters, both within and between countries.
(12) Nearly 1,000,000,000 people across the globe still
suffer from chronic hunger. Water scarcity and poor water
management reduce agricultural productivity and add pressures
on valuable fisheries, posing a major threat to food security
and local livelihoods, and limits the ability of the world to
provide the resources necessary for the doubling of food
production that will be required to meet the demands of a
projected population of 9,000,000,000 people by 2050.
(13) 2.8 billion people in more than 48 countries are
expected to face severe and chronic water shortages by 2025,
with major impacts on energy and food security, development,
livelihoods, human health, and natural infrastructure.
(14) Agriculture consumes 70 percent of all freshwater
withdrawn globally. Global increases in the efficiency and
productivity of both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture will be
needed to meet future food production requirements.
(15) Approximately half the world's population lives in
cities, often in slums characterized by unsafe water, poor
sanitation, lack of basic services, overcrowding, inferior
construction and insecure tenure.
(16) According to the United Nations, women make up 70
percent of the world's poor. Yet, the time they spend
collecting water prevents them from undertaking other
activities, such as generating income or attending school.
(17) A lack of access to safe water and improved sanitation
close to home and at school can impact girls' educational
attainment and retention, limiting their ability to break the
cycle of poverty. Research has found increases in girls' school
enrollment when clean water points were installed closer to
home, and increases in girls' school attendance when separate
latrines for boys and girls were provided on site. Meeting
Target 10 of the Millennium Development Goals for water and
sanitation would provide an estimated 272,000,000 additional
school days per year.
(18) A lack of water points close to home or safe, private
latrines can put women and girls in isolated situations, making
them more vulnerable to sexual and physical violence. Violence
against women and girls has consequences ranging from
psychosocial trauma to heightened risk of HIV/AIDS.
(19) Faith communities and nonprofit development and
conservation organizations across the United States contribute
significantly to the improvement of water, sanitation, and
hygiene in developing countries. By applying their expertise,
providing services, building the capacity of local
organizations, establishing long-term partnerships with local
communities, empowering marginalized groups, supporting
sustainable water management and serving as a voice for the
poor, faith-based and nonprofit organizations complement and
leverage assistance provided by the United States Government.
(20) United States businesses have developed key
technologies, donated goods and services, partnered with
private and public sector entities, and invested their capital
to improve water and sanitation and freshwater sources in many
developing countries. Corporate actors have also partnered with
other stakeholders to implement sustainable water management
and water use efficiency within their plants and throughout
their supply chain.
(21) Implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005 must be significantly strengthened if the
purposes of section 135 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2152h; relating to assistance to provide safe water
and sanitation), as added by section 5(a) of the Senator Paul
Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, are to be met.
(22) The monitoring and evaluation of the performance of
United States foreign assistance programs and their
contribution to policy, strategies, projects, program goals,
and priorities undertaken by the Federal Government is
essential to improving aid effectiveness.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) In May 2013, the United States Agency for International
Development released a Water and Development Strategy, whose
goal is ``to save lives and advance development through
improvements in water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
programs, and through sound management and use of water for
food security.''.
(2) The Water and Development Strategy states that it
supports the efforts of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005 ``by advancing many activities consistent with
the goals of the Act.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the initial United States Agency for International
Development's Water and Development Strategy, released in May
2013--
(A) is a significant accomplishment and improves
the Agency's capacity to provide sustainable and
effective water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance;
(B) is supportive of and should continue to
reinforce the United States foreign policy and
development objectives for clean water, sanitation, and
hygiene;
(C) should be refined and expanded by the United
States Agency for International Development as often as
necessary to ensure best practices are used and the
purposes of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533) and
this Act are met, should target the world's poorest and
those suffering from the lowest levels of access to
safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, and
should be updated by the Agency not later than every 5
years, to more fully meet the requirements and spirit
of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of
2005 and section 135 of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2152h), as added by section 5(a) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005; and
(D) is not, on its own, the holistic United States
water strategy required by the Senator Paul Simon Water
for the Poor Act of 2005, but instead addresses
components of a comprehensive strategy for how the
United States plans to support the United States
foreign policy and development objectives and measure
its success towards the objectives required by the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and
this Act, and must be complimented by the development
of a whole-of-government United States Government
global water strategy aimed at creating an enabling
environment through diplomatic channels for the
Agency's water, sanitation, and hygiene programming
that will better allow the Agency to succeed in its
mission; and
(2) the Secretary of State, acting through the Special
Advisor for Water Resources (established by 136(f) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961), as added by section 5(a)(2)(C)
of this Act, and in collaboration and consultation with the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, should develop a Global Water Resources Strategy
relating to United States foreign policy objectives for water,
pursuant to section 6(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for
the Poor Act of 2005, as added by section 7 of this Act, that--
(A) articulates a vision for the role played by the
Department of State, including in its power as a
convener, in addressing the foreign policy and national
security issues identified in the Senator Paul Simon
Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and this Act, the 2012
National Intelligence Estimate on Global Water
Security, and other relevant whole-of-government
assessments, strategies, and approaches;
(B) is an ambitious United States foreign policy
framework that advances the objectives of the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and this Act
to provide sustainable access to safe drinking water,
sanitation, and hygiene to poor and marginalized people
through improved United States diplomatic efforts to
build political will and coordination across the
Federal Government to better enable United States
Government agencies and partners to meet their
international development objectives;
(C) is complementary to, supportive of, and does
not inhibit, the Water and Development Strategy, and
establishes clear roles and responsibilities insofar as
possible among Federal agencies and departments
responsible for jointly carrying out the strategy, as
required by section 6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon
Water for the Poor Act of 2005, as added by section 7
of this Act.
SEC. 4. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act and the amendments made by this Act is to
strengthen implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533) by--
(1) improving coordination and oversight of international
water, sanitation, hygiene, and sustainable water management
programs within and between United States Government agencies;
(2) increasing the sustainability of United States
Government-supported water, sanitation, and hygiene programs,
including in terms of affordability, accountability, and
financial, operational, institutional, and environmental
sustainability;
(3) enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene expertise
within the United States Agency for International Development
and the Department of State, which shall include a whole of
agency approach to establish a learning agenda aimed at
increasing the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of
the United States Government-supported water, sanitation, and
hygiene programs; and
(4) ensuring water, sanitation, and hygiene programs and
strategies are reflected in and supported by other development
initiatives such as food security, global health, environment,
education, gender quality, and conflict prevention and
mitigation within and between countries, with the goal of
meeting the needs of the poorest and most marginalized people.
SEC. 5. IMPROVING COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT OF SAFE WATER, SANITATION,
AND HYGIENE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 135, as added by section 5(a)
of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2536; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as
section 136; and
(2) in section 136, as redesignated by paragraph (1) of
this section--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``and
sanitation'' and inserting ``, sanitation, and
hygiene'';
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``and
sanitation'' and inserting ``, sanitation, and
hygiene''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subsections:
``(e) Global Water Coordinator.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) shall designate a
senior advisor to coordinate and oversee the Agency's programs
in developing countries that seek to provide affordable and
equitable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, who
shall be known as the `Global Water Coordinator', who shall
administer and oversee an office to be known as the Office of
Water, Sanitation, and Development, and who shall report
directly to the Administrator and the Assistant Administrator
overseeing water programs.
``(2) Duties.--The Global Water Coordinator shall--
``(A) oversee implementation of this section, the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note) and the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World
Act of 2013;
``(B) oversee the buildup of capacity and expertise
within USAID to implement this section, the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law
109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), and the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013,
including--
``(i) by appointing USAID mission water
advisors in each high priority country, who--
``(I) shall have or be given the
opportunity to fully develop their
technical skills and competencies
necessary to provide appropriate
guidance to technical and program staff
to ensure the Water and Development
Strategy can be successfully
implemented; and
``(II) shall ensure water,
sanitation, and hygiene objectives and
indicators are reflected throughout
program planning and budgeting
documents;
``(ii) work with USAID regional bureaus,
who shall be the primary liaisons between the
Global Water Coordinator and mission water
advisors, to ensure water, sanitation, and
hygiene projects are reflected in country-
specific multiyear strategies, multiyear sector
strategies, and project designs in each high
priority country; and
``(iii) ensure that water, sanitation,
hygiene and water management issues are
incorporated into all relevant Agency training
programs at the office, regional, and mission
levels;
``(C) lead the implementation of the Water and
Development Strategy and oversee the review and
development no later than every 5 years of an updated
Water and Development Strategy such that it more
clearly meets the requirements of the Senator Paul
Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and this Act;
``(D) assist and monitor the development of
country-specific and, where appropriate, regional water
strategies, whether independent, or as part of broader
USAID country-specific or regional strategies, in
coordination with relevant USAID mission directors,
other appropriate personnel, and pursuant to the
interagency consultation and coordination process as
required by section 5(b) of the Senator Paul Simon
Water for the World Act of 2013, ensuring such
strategies reflect best practices as they relate to
increasing access to clean water, sanitation, and
hygiene activities, and sustainable water management;
``(E) ensure sustainable and equitable access to
clean water, sanitation, and hygiene are reflected in
strategies and broader USAID policies or strategies,
including policies or strategies relating to food
security, global health, environment, education, gender
equality, and conflict prevention and mitigation;
``(F) develop appropriate benchmarks, measurable
goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and
evaluation plans for water, sanitation, and hygiene
programs in accordance with and as required by sections
6 and 7 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22
U.S.C. 2152h note);
``(G) ensure programming for sustainable water
management, and equitable access to clean water,
sanitation, and hygiene are reflected across USAID
programming in a manner consistent with the long-term
sustainability of service outcomes and freshwater
sources; and
``(H) foster the development, dissemination, and
increased and consistent use of low-cost and
sustainable technologies, public and private
partnerships, credit guarantees and other financing
arrangements that leverage non-Federal funds for impact
on equitable access to affordable water, sanitation,
and hygiene services that will provide long-term
benefits to the world's poorest communities.
``(3) Staff.--The Administrator shall ensure that a
sufficient number of employees with appropriate experience or
expertise are reassigned or detailed from within USAID to
assist the Global Water Coordinator in carrying out the duties
of paragraph (2).
``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection--
``(A) the term `high priority country' means a low-
income or lower-middle income country designated
pursuant to section 6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator Paul
Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-
121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) and
enumerated in the strategy required by such Act, the
first iteration of which was released by USAID in May
2013; and
``(B) the term `Water and Development Strategy'
means the strategy released by USAID in May 2013 and
its revisions, required to be developed as soon as
practicable after the date of the enactment of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, but
no less than 5 years after such date of enactment and
every 5 years thereafter under section 6(b) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note).
``(f) Special Advisor for Water Resources.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall designate a
senior advisor to develop, coordinate, and oversee United
States foreign policy relating to freshwater resources and
policies complementary to, and in support of, the United States
Agency for International Development's Water and Development
Strategy, who shall be known as the `Special Advisor for Water
Resources', and who shall report directly to the Secretary of
State and the Under Secretary overseeing water programs.
``(2) Duties.--The Special Advisor for Water Resources
shall--
``(A) oversee and coordinate the development and
implementation of approaches to increasing political
will and government support in partner countries in
accordance with United States foreign policy on
drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, water resource
management, and transboundary water, including--
``(i) working with partner countries and
other stakeholders to develop, sustain, and
leverage political and financial commitments
that would improve access to safe drinking
water, sanitation, and hygiene, and sustainable
water management over the long term;
``(ii) assisting and encouraging other
countries and international organizations to
plan and manage water resources in an
efficient, transparent, equitable, inclusive,
and environmentally sustainable manner, taking
into account the interdependence among water,
food, energy, and sustainable development;
``(iii) fostering regional and cross-border
cooperation for integrated management, use and
protection of internationally shared rivers,
lakes, and aquifer systems;
``(iv) preventing and mitigating intra- and
trans-boundary conflict over water resources,
including through efforts to strengthen
international water law and institutions as
tools for facilitating cooperation;
``(v) working with partner countries,
international organizations, and other
stakeholders to manage water resources in ways
that reduce risk and impact from potential
water-related shocks such as, but not limited
to, droughts or floods, including for improved
global food security; and
``(vi) fostering increased agricultural and
urban productivity of water resources;
``(B) promote and be the representative for United
States policy relating to global freshwater issues in
key diplomatic and scientific forums; and
``(C) lead the development and implementation of
the Global Water Resources Strategy required by section
6(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act
of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C.
2152h note) and oversee the review of and update to not
later than every 5 years the Global Water Resources
Strategy to reflect pressing global challenges and
changes.
``(3) Staff.--The Secretary of State shall ensure that a
sufficient number of employees of the Department of State with
appropriate experience or expertise are reassigned or detailed
from within the Department of State to assist the Special
Advisor for Water Resources in carrying out the duties of
paragraph (2).
``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection--
``(A) the term `Water and Development Strategy'
means the strategy released by USAID in May 2013 and
its revisions, required to be developed as soon as
practicable after the date of the enactment of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, but
no less than 5 years after such date of enactment and
every 5 years thereafter under section 6(b) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note); and
``(B) the term `Global Water Resources Strategy'
means the strategy required under section 6(a) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note).''.
(b) Interagency Consultation and Coordination.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development and the Secretary
of State shall develop and implement a process to ensure
regular consultation and coordination between the Global Water
Coordinator and the Special Advisor for Water Resources so that
their efforts are complimentary and in support of the
implementation, and subsequent revision not later than every 5
years, of the Global Water Resources Strategy and the Water and
Development Strategy.
(2) Matters to be included.--The process required under
paragraph (1) should include jointly convened meetings with any
Federal department or agency administering United States water,
sanitation, and hygiene programs to evaluate progress in
carrying out the strategies described in paragraph (1), or the
revision to any such strategy, as required by section 6 of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law
109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by
section 7 of this Act.
(3) Definitions.--In this subsection--
(A) the term ``Global Water Coordinator'' means the
Global Water Coordinator designated under section
136(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added
by subsection (a)(2) of this section;
(B) the term ``Global Water Resources Strategy''
means the strategy required under section 6(a) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note), as amended by section 7 of this Act;
(C) the term ``Special Advisor for Water
Resources'' means the Special Advisor for Water
Resources designated under section 136(f) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by subsection
(a)(2) of this section; and
(D) the term ``Water and Development Strategy''
means the strategy released by USAID in May 2013 and
its revisions, required to be developed as soon as
practicable after the date of the enactment of this
Act, but no less than 5 years after such date of
enactment and every 5 years thereafter under section
6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act
of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C.
2152h note), as amended by section 7 of this Act.
SEC. 6. INCREASING SUSTAINABILITY OF SAFE WATER, SANITATION, AND
HYGIENE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES.
(a) Principles.--In order to ensure that water, sanitation, and
hygiene projects and activities of the United States Agency for
International Development carried out under the authorities of section
136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as redesignated and amended
by section 5 of this Act, and the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note),
as amended by this Act, achieve maximum impact and continue to deliver
lasting benefits after completion, such projects and activities shall
be carried out in accordance with, and monitored and evaluated against
the following principles:
(1) Projects and activities should be targeted to the
poorest and most vulnerable countries and communities,
including women and girls, displaced persons and refugees, and
other marginalized populations.
(2) Projects and activities should be designed in
consultation with a broad range of local and national
stakeholders, including communities directly affected by a lack
of access to clean water, sanitation or hygiene,
nongovernmental organizations, cooperatives, foundations,
universities, private sector entities, and women-focused
organizations.
(3) Projects and activities to provide services for the
poor should be designed wherever possible to be financially or
commercially viable over the long term, focusing on local
ownership and sustainability, and undertaken in conjunction
with relevant public institutions or private enterprise so long
as they can provide access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in
such a way that strengthens social equity of access and keeps
these services affordable to all, especially the poorest of the
poor.
(4) Governments of countries in which projects and
activities are carried out should identify revenue streams
sufficient to cover the costs of maintaining public equipment
and services with respect to such projects and activities over
the long term.
(5) Projects and activities should provide for a
functioning management and maintenance system comprising tools,
supply chains, transport, equipment, training and individuals
or institutions with clear responsibilities for achieving
sustainability.
(6) With respect to projects and activities that are
managed by communities or institutions, effective external
support should be provided to such communities or institutions.
(7) Projects should be designed to provide access to water,
sanitation, and hygiene, and sustainable water management
through joint programs and other coordinated mechanisms and
policies, in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of
the results achieved, to mitigate any negative environmental
impacts, and to ensure the resilience of natural and man-made
infrastructure to floods, droughts, and other water-related
disasters.
(8) Access to water and sanitation should be expanded in an
equitable manner and on the basis of need, without regard to
race, gender, religion, or ethnic origin.
(b) Local Ownership.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development shall establish guidelines and procedures
to ensure that--
(1) a broad range of local and national stakeholders is
consulted in the development of any country-specific water
strategy;
(2) any water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and
activities authorized under each such strategy are designed to
address the specific needs of women and girls; and
(3) local civil society organizations, including nonprofit
organizations as well as businesses, are full participants in
the selection and design, implementation, monitoring, and
evaluation of water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and
activities.
(c) Local Procurement.--
(1) Authority.--In providing assistance under the
authorities of section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, as redesignated and amended by section 5 of this Act, the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development is authorized to award contracts and other
acquisition instruments on a noncompetitive basis to local
entities in high priority countries to carry out safe water,
sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities in such
countries.
(2) Limitation.--A contract or other instrument described
in paragraph (1) may not have a value that exceeds $5,000,000.
(3) Supersedes other laws.--The Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development may exercise the
authority of paragraph (1) notwithstanding any other provision
of law.
(4) Definitions.--In this subsection--
(A) the term ``high priority country'' means a low-
income or lower-middle income country designated
pursuant to section 6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator Paul
Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-
121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended
by section 7 of this Act; and
(B) the term ``local entity'' means an individual,
corporation, or other entity that--
(i) is organized under the laws of the high
priority country;
(ii) has its principal place of business or
operations in such country; and
(iii) is owned or controlled by citizens of
such country.
(5) Funding.--Funds made available to carry out the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121;
119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) for any fiscal year are
authorized to be made available to carry out this subsection.
(d) Retention of Interest.--
(1) Authority.--In providing assistance under the
authorities of section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, as redesignated and amended by section 5 of this Act, the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development is authorized to enter into agreements with
indigenous local private or public groups, associations, or
other entities in high priority countries to provide for the
retention by such group, association, or other entity, without
deposit in the Treasury of the United States and without
further appropriation by law, of interest earned on such
assistance so provided.
(2) Limitation.--An agreement described in paragraph (1)
may not have a value that exceeds $5,000,000.
(3) Use of interest.--Any interest earned on the advance of
funds under an agreement authorized under paragraph (1) may be
used only for the purposes for which the agreement is made.
(4) Audits.--The Administrator shall, on a regular and
recurring basis, audit interest earned on advance funds under
an agreement authorized under paragraph (1) to ensure that the
requirements of paragraph (3) are met.
(5) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``high
priority country'' means a low-income or lower-middle income
country designated pursuant to section 6(b)(2)(C) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law
109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by
section 7 of this Act.
SEC. 7. UNITED STATES COMPLIMENTARY STRATEGIES TO INCREASE SUSTAINABLE,
AFFORDABLE, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SAFE WATER,
SANITATION, AND HYGIENE.
Section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) is amended
to read as follows:
``SEC. 6. UNITED STATES COMPLIMENTARY STRATEGIES TO INCREASE
SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SAFE
WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE.
``(a) Global Water Resources Strategy.--
``(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act
of 2013, and every 5 years thereafter, the President, acting
through the Secretary of State, shall develop a strategy to
further the United States foreign policy objective to provide
affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation in
developing countries, as described in section 136 of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and by the Agency's Water and
Development Strategy required under subsection (b).
``(2) Contents.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall--
``(A) articulate the United States foreign policy
framework that will drive the implementation of the
United States foreign policy objectives on increasing
access to equitable, clean drinking water, sanitation,
and hygiene for the world's poorest, water resource
management, transboundary water and prevention of
conflict over water resources; and
``(B) address ways in which United States foreign
policy efforts will promote global water security by
building political will and partnerships, and support
for national level planning processes, in conjunction
with the United States Agency for International
Development and other Federal agencies, and leveraging
expertise, knowledge, technology and resources that
will increase the likelihood that the world's poor
receive or continue to have the water they need, when
and where they need it, in a sustainable, equitable and
conflict-free manner.
``(3) Consultation.--The strategy required by paragraph (1)
shall be developed in consultation with the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development, the
heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies,
international organizations, international financial
institutions, recipient governments, United States and
international nongovernmental organizations, indigenous civil
society, and other appropriate entities, and shall be
complimentary to, or ultimately joined with, the Agency's Water
and Development Strategy required under subsection (b) and
subsequent revisions thereto.
``(4) Implementation.--The Secretary of State, acting
through the Under Secretary of State who has responsibility to
oversee water programs and the Special Advisor for Water
Resources, shall implement the strategy required under
paragraph (1). The strategy may also be implemented in part by
other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate.
``(5) Consistent with safe water and sanitation policy.--
The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall be consistent
with the policy stated in section 3 of this Act.
``(6) Content.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
``(A) specific and measurable goals, benchmarks,
and timetables to achieve the objective described in
paragraph (1);
``(B) an assessment of the level of funding and
other assistance for United States water and sanitation
programs needed each by the United States Department of
State year to achieve the goals, benchmarks, and
timetables described in subparagraph (A);
``(C) methods to coordinate and integrate United
States water, water resources and sanitation assistance
carried out by the Department of State with water,
sanitation, hygiene and water resource development
programs carried out by the United States Agency for
International Development and other Federal agencies to
achieve the objective described in paragraph (1);
``(D) methods to better coordinate United States
water and sanitation assistance programs with programs
of other donor countries and entities to achieve the
objective described in paragraph (1); and
``(E) an assessment of the commitment of
governments of countries that receive assistance under
section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to
policies or policy reforms that support affordable and
equitable access by the people of such countries to
safe water and sanitation.
``(b) Water and Development Strategy.--
``(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act
of 2013, but no less than 5 years after such date of enactment
and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development, acting through the
Global Water Coordinator and in consultation with the Special
Advisor for Water Resources, shall develop a strategy, to be
known as the `Water and Development Strategy', to further,
through the United States Agency for International Development,
the United States foreign assistance objective to provide
affordable, equitable, and sustainable access to safe drinking
water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries, as
described in section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Such strategy shall be complimentary to the United States
foreign policy objectives of the safe water and sanitation
strategy required under subsection (a) and shall be transmitted
to the appropriate congressional committees and made publicly
available on the Internet.
``(2) Contents.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall provide an ambitious vision for leadership of the
international development objectives of this Act and the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013 and meet the
following requirements:
``(A) Consistency with safe water, sanitation, and
hygiene policy.--The strategy shall be consistent with
the policy stated in section 3 of the Senator Paul
Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-
121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note).
``(B) Criteria for determining high priority
countries.--The strategy shall identify low-income and
lower-middle income countries with a severe lack of
access to affordable, equitable, and sustainable safe
drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, by assessing--
``(i) the government or nongovernmental
organizational capacity or commitment to manage
and implement affordable, equitable, and
sustainable solutions, in accordance with
section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for
the World Act of 2013;
``(ii) opportunities to leverage existing
indigenous public sector, local, donor or
private sector investments in the water,
sanitation and water resource management
sector;
``(iii) the number of people and percent of
the population without access to an improved
source of safe drinking water in or close to
home, disaggregated by rural, peri-urban, or
urban geographic location;
``(iv) the number of people and percent of
the population without access to an improved
source of sanitation in or close to home,
disaggregated by rural, peri-urban, or urban
geographic location;
``(v) the mortality rate and number of
deaths of children under 5 years old due to
diarrhea;
``(vi) the mortality rate and number of
deaths of children under 5 years old due to
pneumonia;
``(vii) the number and proportion of
children under 5 years old who are under-
nourished;
``(viii) the average time burden of water
collection in rural areas;
``(ix) the coexistence in a single
geographic area of two or more diseases
categorized as a neglected tropical disease
spread in whole or in part due to lack of
access to safe drinking water, sanitation or
hygiene, as defined by the Agency; and
``(x) the degree to which water,
sanitation, and hygiene programs are identified
as a priority by a beneficiary government,
region, or community, as identified in national
plans and strategies and the country-specific
multiyear strategies as developed by the Agency
mission in consultation with the national
government and civil society.
``(C) Designating high priority countries.--The
strategy shall select 10 to 20 of the eligible
countries identified through the assessment required by
subparagraph (B) and identify such countries as `high
priority countries'.
``(D) Requirements for high priority countries.--
Each country selected as a high priority country shall
be the focus of the Agency's water, sanitation, and
hygiene programming, and the strategy shall develop
comprehensive and holistic individual country plans for
each high priority country so as to meet the objectives
of paragraph (1). Such plans shall include--
``(i) a results framework, in accordance
with the sustainability principles identified
in section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water
for the World Act of 2013, and monitoring and
evaluation principles identified in section 7
of this Act, which shall include indicators
composed of those criteria used in paragraph
(2) to identify high priority countries, that
shall be used to measure the long-term impacts
and sustainability of programs, including the
ongoing commitment of host-country
institutions, or lack thereof, and increased
access to water, sanitation, and hygiene
projects, programs and services provided
directly or leveraged by the United States
Government; and
``(ii) a clearly described process by which
the strategy shall be aligned, coordinated, and
leveraged with United States development
strategies, policies, and international
development initiatives that operate within the
high priority country, to include coordination
with and reflected in the high priority
country's comprehensive strategy for United
States Government-supported development
assistance.
``(E) Additional requirements for high priority
countries.--For each high priority country, the
Agency's mission director for such country shall--
``(i) designate sustainably increasing
access to safe drinking water and sanitation as
a strategic objective, reflected in country-
specific strategies that incorporate
sustainable water management goals and targets
in accordance with this Act; and
``(ii) ensure, where complimentary, that
the benefits of safe drinking water,
sanitation, and hygiene are reflected in other
development initiatives.
``(3) Rule of construction relating to initial strategy.--
The Agency's Water and Development Strategy, issued in May
2013, shall be deemed to be the initial strategy required under
paragraph (1) and shall be updated in a timely manner as
required by paragraph (1).
``(4) Implementation plan.--Not later than 90 days after
the date of transmission of the initial strategy required under
paragraph (1), the Global Water Coordinator shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees an implementation plan
detailing how the United States Agency for International
Development will institutionalize the strategy, including--
``(A) the budget resources needed to achieve the
goals, benchmarks, and timetables described in this
subsection, and an assessment of what will likely be
achieved at current funding levels; and
``(B) the number, types, and levels of specialists
and generalists currently employed, and projected to be
needed, in each functional and geographic area,
including support, management, and administrative
functions, to carry out the strategy.
``(5) Collaboration and coordination.--
``(A) In general.--In developing the strategy
required under paragraph (1)), and the implementation
plan required under paragraph (4), the Global Water
Coordinator shall--
``(i) consult with relevant Executive
agencies;
``(ii) consult with the Special Advisor for
Water Resources;
``(iii) consult with the Interagency
Consultation and Coordination process as
required by section 5(b) of the Paul Simon
Water for the World Act of 2013; and
``(iv) consult with representatives of
civil society and multi-lateral organizations
with demonstrated experience in addressing the
lack of access to affordable, equitable and
sustainable safe drinking water, sanitation and
hygiene in developing countries.
``(B) Public comment.--In carrying out paragraph
(1)(D), the Global Water Coordinator shall allow public
comments to be submitted for consideration through a
mechanism of the Global Water Coordinator's choosing,
except that such comment period shall last not less
than 45 days.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Global water coordinator.--The term `Global Water
Coordinator' means the Global Water Coordinator designated
under section 136(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
``(2) Special advisor for water resources.--The term
`Special Advisor for Water Resources' means the Special Advisor
for Water Resources designated under section 136(f) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.''.
SEC. 8. TRANSPARENCY AND MONITORING AND EVALUATION.
Section 7 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) is amended
to read as follows:
``SEC. 7. TRANSPARENCY AND MONITORING AND EVALUATION.
``(a) Transparency.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act
of 2013, the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall, as part of the Agency's
Internet Web site, establish and maintain a Web page to make
publicly available comprehensive, timely, comparable, and
accessible information on United States water, sanitation, and
hygiene foreign assistance programs. The head of each Federal
department or agency that administers such programs shall on a
quarterly basis publish and update on the Web page such
information with respect to programs of the department or
agency.
``(2) Matters to be included.--
``(A) In general.--To ensure transparency,
accountability, and effectiveness of United States
water, sanitation, and hygiene foreign assistance
programs, the information required by paragraph (1)
shall include--
``(i) the strategy required by section 6(b)
of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat.
2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note);
``(ii) a list of countries that meet the
criteria outlined in section 6(b)(2)(B) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of
2005;
``(iii) an identification of each country
designated as a high priority country under
section 6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator Paul Simon
Water for the Poor Act of 2005, including a
fully articulated rationale of why each country
received the designation;
``(iv) for each fiscal year, information on
the amount of funds expended in each country or
program to carry out this Act and the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005,
disaggregated by purpose of assistance,
including information on capital investments,
and the source of such funds by account; and
``(v) evaluations of water, sanitation, and
hygiene programs.
``(B) Posting requirements.--Such information shall
be published on the Web page not later than 30 days
after the date of issuance of the information and shall
be continuously updated.
``(C) Report in lieu of inclusion.--If the head of
a Federal department or agency described in paragraph
(1) makes a determination that the inclusion of a
required item of information on the Web page would
jeopardize the health or security of an implementing
partner or program beneficiary or would be detrimental
to the national interests of the United States, such
item of information may be submitted to Congress in a
written report in lieu of including it on the Web page,
along with the reasons for not including it on the Web
page.
``(3) Database.--The Web page shall also contain a link to
a searchable database available to the public containing such
information relating to the current fiscal year and, as
available, for each prior fiscal year dating to and including
fiscal year 2006.
``(4) Form.--Such information shall be published on the Web
page in unclassified form. Any information determined to be
classified information may be submitted to Congress in
classified form and an unclassified summary of such information
shall be published on the Web page.
``(b) Monitoring and Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--With regard to water, sanitation, and
hygiene programming, the Global Water Coordinator shall ensure
that the Agency monitors and evaluates projects and activities
carried out under such programs, including carrying out
assessments of impact where appropriate, and ensuring results
of evaluations are used to inform the design of such projects
and activities. Such monitoring and evaluations shall--
``(A) be carried out in accordance with, and
measured against the principles described in section
6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act
of 2005 and, where appropriate, the goals established
section 6(b)(2)(D) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for
the Poor Act of 2005; and
``(B) conduct longer term monitoring and evaluation
of its water activities in order to assess
sustainability beyond the typical Agency program cycle
and to enable reasonable support to issues that arise
post implementation.
``(2) Mandatory set-aside for monitoring and evaluation.--
Each water, sanitation, and hygiene project shall be planned
and budgeted to include funding for both short- and long-term
monitoring and evaluation so that the United States Government
and other stakeholders can ascertain the long-term return on
investment of United States assistance funds and to enable
learning about the sustainability of assistance programs and
projects that shall inform future projects and programs.
``(3) When to conduct evaluations.--The evaluation of
water, sanitation, and hygiene projects should include
measurable goals and performance metrics, to be tracked against
an established baseline at the outset. Such evaluations should
occur immediately following the completion of a project, and no
fewer than half of all water, sanitation, and hygiene projects
shall be reevaluated 5 years after the completion of the
project, all in accordance with the requirements and metrics
enumerated in paragraph (1).
``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Monitoring.--The term `monitoring' means,
with respect to a United States water, sanitation, or
hygiene foreign assistance program, a continuing
function that uses systematic collection of data on
specified indicators to provide management and the main
stakeholders of an ongoing development intervention
with indications of the extent of progress and
achievement of objectives and progress in the use of
allocated funds.
``(B) Evaluation.--The term `evaluation' means,
with respect to a United States water, sanitation, or
hygiene foreign assistance program, the systematic
collection and analysis of information about the
characteristics and outcomes of the program and
projects under the program as a basis for judgments, to
improve effectiveness, and to inform decisions about
current and future programming, including an
explanation of the reasons for or causes of the
observed results.''.
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