[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2946 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2946
To provide improved water, sanitation, and hygiene programs for high
priority developing countries, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 19, 2014
Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Corker, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Flake)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide improved water, sanitation, and hygiene programs for high
priority developing countries, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Senator Paul Simon Water for the
World Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) water and sanitation are critically important resources
that impact many other aspects of human life;
(2) the United States should be a global leader in helping
provide sustainable access to clean water and sanitation for
the world's most vulnerable populations; and
(3) the ``USAID Water and Development Strategy, 2013-
2018'', which was released by the United States Agency for
International Development in May 2013--
(A) improves USAID's capacity to provide
sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance;
(B) advances implementation of portions of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533), and
(C) should inform the Global Water Strategy
required under section 136(j) of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961, as added by section 6 of this Act.
SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE SAFE WATER AND
SANITATION TO INCLUDE HYGIENE.
Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is
amended--
(1) by redesignating section 135 (22 U.S.C. 2152h), as
added by section 5(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as
section 136; and
(2) in section 136, as redesignated--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``and
sanitation'' and inserting ``, sanitation, and
hygiene''; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``and
sanitation'' and inserting ``, sanitation, and
hygiene''.
SEC. 4. IMPROVING COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT OF SAFE WATER, SANITATION
AND HYGIENE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES.
Section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as redesignated
and amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(e) Coordination and Oversight.--
``(1) USAID global water coordinator.--
``(A) Designation.--The Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development (referred
to in this paragraph as `USAID') or the Administrator's
designee, who shall be a current USAID employee serving
in a career or non-career position in the Senior
Executive Service or at the level of a Deputy Assistant
Administrator or higher, shall serve concurrently as
the USAID Global Water Coordinator (referred to in this
subsection as the `Coordinator').
``(B) Specific duties.--The Coordinator shall--
``(i) provide direction and guidance to,
coordinate, and oversee the projects and
programs of USAID authorized under this
section;
``(ii) lead the implementation and
revision, not less frequently than once every 5
years, of USAID's portion of the Global Water
Strategy required under subsection (j);
``(iii) seek--
``(I) to expand the capacity of
USAID, subject to the availability of
appropriations, including through the
designation of a lead subject matter
expert selected from among USAID staff
in each high priority country
designated pursuant to subsection (h);
``(II) to implement such programs
and activities;
``(III) to take advantage of
economies of scale; and
``(IV) to conduct more efficient
and effective projects and programs;
``(iv) coordinate with the Department of
State and USAID staff in each high priority
country designated pursuant to subsection (h)
to ensure that USAID activities and projects,
USAID program planning and budgeting documents,
and USAID country development strategies
reflect and seek to implement--
``(I) the safe water, sanitation,
and hygiene objectives established in
the strategy required under subsection
(j), including objectives relating to
the management of water resources; and
``(II) international best practices
relating to--
``(aa) increasing access to
safe water and sanitation;
``(bb) conducting hygiene-
related activities; and
``(cc) ensuring appropriate
management of water resources;
and
``(v) develop appropriate benchmarks,
measurable goals, performance metrics, and
monitoring and evaluation plans for USAID
projects and programs authorized under this
section.
``(2) Department of state special coordinator for water
resources.--
``(A) Designation.--The Secretary of State or the
Secretary's designee, who shall be a current employee
of the Department of State serving in a career or non-
career position in the Senior Executive Service or at
the level of a Deputy Assistant Secretary or higher,
shall serve concurrently as the Department of State
Special Advisor for Water Resources (referred to in
this paragraph as the `Special Advisor').
``(B) Specific duties.--The Special Advisor shall--
``(i) provide direction and guidance to,
coordinate, and oversee the projects and
programs of the Department of State authorized
under this section;
``(ii) lead the implementation and
revision, not less than every 5 years, of the
Department of State's portion of the Global
Water Strategy required under subsection (j);
``(iii) prioritize and coordinate the
Department of State's international engagement
on the allocation, distribution, and access to
global fresh water resources and policies
related to such matters;
``(iv) coordinate with United States Agency
for International Development and Department of
State staff in each high priority country
designated pursuant to subsection (h) to ensure
that United States diplomatic efforts related
to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene,
including efforts related to management of
water resources and watersheds and the
resolution of intra- and trans-boundary
conflicts over water resources, are consistent
with United States national interests; and
``(v) represent the views of the United
States Government on the allocation,
distribution, and access to global fresh water
resources and policies related to such matters
in key international fora, including key
diplomatic, development-related, and scientific
organizations.
``(3) Additional nature of duties and restriction on
additional or supplemental compensation.--The responsibilities
and specific duties of the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development (or the Administrator's
designee) and the Secretary of State (or the Secretary's
designee) under paragraph (2) or (3), respectively, shall be in
addition to any other responsibilities or specific duties
assigned to such individuals. Such individuals shall receive no
additional or supplemental compensation as a result of carrying
out such responsibilities and specific duties under such
paragraphs.''.
SEC. 5. PROMOTING THE MAXIMUM IMPACT AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF
USAID SAFE WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE-RELATED
PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.
Section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as redesignated
and amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(f) Priorities and Criteria for Maximum Impact and Long-Term
Sustainability.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall ensure that the Agency for
International Development's projects and programs authorized under this
section are designed to achieve maximum impact and long-term
sustainability by--
``(1) prioritizing countries on the basis of the following
clearly defined criteria and indicators, to the extent
sufficient data are available--
``(A) the proportion of the population using an
unimproved drinking water source;
``(B) the total population using an unimproved
drinking water source;
``(C) the proportion of the population without
piped water access;
``(D) the proportion of the population using shared
or other unimproved sanitation facilities;
``(E) the total population using shared or other
unimproved sanitation facilities;
``(F) the proportion of the population practicing
open defecation;
``(G) the total number of children younger than 5
years of age who died from diarrheal disease;
``(H) the proportion of all deaths of children
younger than 5 years of age resulting from diarrheal
disease;
``(I) the national government's capacity,
capability, and commitment to work with the United
States to improve access to safe water, sanitation, and
hygiene, including--
``(i) the government's capacity and
commitment to developing the indigenous
capacity to provide safe water and sanitation
without the assistance of outside donors; and
``(ii) the degree to which such
government--
``(I) identifies such efforts as a
priority; and
``(II) allocates resources to such
efforts;
``(J) the availability of opportunities to leverage
existing public, private, or other donor investments in
the water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors, including
investments in the management of water resources; and
``(K) the likelihood of making significant
improvements on a per capita basis on the health and
educational opportunities available to women as a
result of increased access to safe water, sanitation,
and hygiene, including access to appropriate facilities
at primary and secondary educational institutions
seeking to ensure that communities benefitting from
such projects and activities develop the indigenous
capacity to provide safe water and sanitation without
the assistance of outside donors;
``(2) prioritizing and measuring, including through
rigorous monitoring and evaluating mechanisms, the extent to
which such project or program--
``(A) furthers significant improvements in--
``(i) the criteria set forth in
subparagraphs (A) through (H) of paragraph (1);
``(ii) the health and educational
opportunities available to women as a result of
increased access to safe water, sanitation, and
hygiene, including access to appropriate
facilities at primary and secondary educational
institutions; and
``(iii) the indigenous capacity of the host
nation or community to provide safe water and
sanitation without the assistance of outside
donors;
``(B) is designed, as part of the provision of safe
water and sanitation to the local community--
``(i) to be financially independent over
the long term, focusing on local ownership and
sustainability;
``(ii) to be undertaken in conjunction with
relevant public institutions or private
enterprises;
``(iii) to identify and empower local
individuals or institutions to be responsible
for the effective management and maintenance of
such project or program; and
``(iv) to provide safe water or expertise
or capacity building to those identified
parties or institutions for the purposes of
developing a plan and clear responsibilities
for the effective management and maintenance of
such project or program;
``(C) leverages existing public, private, or other
donor investments in the water, sanitation, and hygiene
sectors, including investments in the management of
water resources;
``(D) avoids duplication of efforts with other
United States Government agencies or departments or
those of other nations or nongovernmental
organizations;
``(E) coordinates such efforts with the efforts of
other United States Government agencies or departments
or those of other nations or nongovernmental
organizations directed at assisting refugees and other
displaced individuals; and
``(F) involves consultation with appropriate
stakeholders, including communities directly affected
by the lack of access to clean water, sanitation or
hygiene, and other appropriate nongovernmental
organizations;
``(3) seeking to further the `USAID Water and Development
Strategy, 2013-2018' through 2018; and
``(4) seeking to further the strategy required under
subsection (j) after 2018.
``(g) Use of Improved Data Collection and Review of New
Standardized Indicators.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development is authorized to use
improved data collection--
``(A) to meet the health-based prioritization
criteria established pursuant to subsection (f)(1); and
``(B) to review new standardized indicators in
evaluating progress towards meeting such criteria.
``(2) Consultation and notice.--The Administrator shall--
``(A) regularly consult with the appropriate
congressional committees; and
``(B) notify such committees not later 30 days
before using improved data collection and review of new
standardized indicators under paragraph (1) for the
purposes of carrying out this section.
``(h) Designation of High Priority Countries.--
``(1) Initial designation.--Not later than October 1, 2015,
the President shall--
``(A) designate, on the basis of the criteria set
forth in subsection (f)(1) and in furtherance of the
`USAID Water and Development Strategy, 2013-2018', not
fewer than 10 countries as high priority countries to
be the primary recipients of United States Government
assistance authorized under this section during fiscal
year 2016; and
``(B) notify the appropriate congressional
committees of such designations.
``(2) Annual designations.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the President shall annually make new
designations pursuant to the criteria set forth in
paragraph (1).
``(B) Designations after fiscal year 2018.--
Beginning with fiscal year 2019, designations under
paragraph (1) shall be made--
``(i) based upon the criteria set forth in
subsection (f)(1); and
``(ii) in furtherance of the strategy
required under subsection (j).
``(i) Targeting of Projects and Programs to Areas of Greatest
Need.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 15 days before the
obligation of any funds for water, sanitation, or hygiene
projects or programs pursuant to this section in countries that
are not ranked in the top 50 countries based upon the WASH
Needs Index, the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall notify the appropriate
congressional committees of the planned obligation of such
funds.
``(2) Defined term.--In this subsection and in subsection
(j), the term `WASH Needs Index' means the needs index for
water, sanitation, or hygiene projects or programs authorized
under this section that has been developed using the criteria
and indicators described in subparagraphs (A) through (H) of
subsection (f)(1).''.
SEC. 6. UNITED STATES STRATEGY TO INCREASE APPROPRIATE LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABILITY AND ACCESS TO SAFE WATER, SANITATION, AND
HYGIENE.
(a) In General.--Section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961,
as redesignated and amended by this Act, is further amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(j) Global Water Strategy.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than October 1, 2017, and
every 5 years thereafter, the President, acting through the
Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, and the heads of other
Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall submit
a single government-wide Global Water Strategy to the
appropriate congressional committees that provides a detailed
description of how the United States intends--
``(A) to increase access to safe water, sanitation,
and hygiene in high priority countries designated
pursuant to subsection (h), including a summary of the
WASH Needs Index and the specific weighting of data and
other assumptions used to develop and rank countries on
the WASH Needs Index;
``(B) to improve the management of water resources
and watersheds in such countries; and
``(C) to work to prevent and resolve, to the
greatest degree possible, both intra- and trans-
boundary conflicts over water resources in such
countries.
``(2) Agency-specific plans.--The Global Water Strategy
shall include an agency-specific plan--
``(A) from the United States Agency for
International Development that describes specifically
how the Agency for International Development will--
``(i) carry out the duties and
responsibilities assigned to the Global Water
Coordinator under subsection (e)(1);
``(ii) ensure that the Agency for
International Development's projects and
programs authorized under this section are
designed to achieve maximum impact and long-
term sustainability, including by implementing
the requirements described in subsection (f);
and
``(iii) increase access to safe water,
sanitation, and hygiene in high priority
countries designated pursuant to subsection
(h);
``(B) from the Department of State that describes
specifically how the Department of State will--
``(i) carry out the duties and
responsibilities assigned to the Special
Coordinator for Water Resources under
subsection (e)(2); and
``(ii) ensure that the Department's
activities authorized under this section are
designed--
``(I) to improve management of
water resources and watersheds in
countries designated pursuant to
subsection (h); and
``(II) to prevent and resolve, to
the greatest degree possible, both
intra- and trans-boundary conflicts
over water resources in such countries;
and
``(C) from other Federal departments and agencies,
as appropriate, that describes the contributions of the
departments and agencies to implementing the Global
Water Strategy.
``(3) Individualized plans for high priority countries.--
For each high priority country designated pursuant to
subsection (h), the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development shall--
``(A) develop a costed, evidence-based, and
results-oriented plan that--
``(i) seeks to achieve the purposes of this
section; and
``(ii) meets the requirements under
subsection (f); and
``(B) include such plan in an appendix to the
Global Water Strategy required under paragraph (1).
``(4) First time access reporting requirement.--The Global
Water Strategy shall specifically describe the target
percentage of funding for each fiscal year covered by such
strategy to be directed toward projects aimed at providing
first-time access to safe water and sanitation.
``(5) Performance indicators.--The Global Water Strategy
shall include specific and measurable goals, benchmarks,
performance metrics, timetables, and monitoring and evaluation
plans required to be developed by the Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development pursuant to
subsection (e)(1)(B)(v).
``(6) Consultation and best practices.--The Global Water
Strategy shall--
``(A) be developed in consultation with the heads
of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies;
and
``(B) incorporate best practices from the
international development community.
``(k) Definition.--In this section, the term `appropriate
congressional committees' means--
``(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
``(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
``(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
``(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.''.
(b) Department of State Agency-Specific Plan.--Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State
shall submit an agency-specific plan to the appropriate congressional
committees (as defined in section 136(k) of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961, as added by subsection (a)) that meets the requirements of
section 136(j)(2)(B) of such Act, as added by subsection (a).
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon
Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note) is repealed.
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