[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 802 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 802

          Supporting the goals and ideals of World Water Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 22, 2018

  Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas (for herself and Mr. Blumenauer) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
   on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Science, 
   Space, and Technology, and Natural Resources, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
          Supporting the goals and ideals of World Water Day.

Whereas the global celebration of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out 
        of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 
        Rio de Janeiro;
Whereas the United Nations General Assembly, via resolution, designated March 22 
        of each year as World Water Day;
Whereas although water resources are renewable, differences in availability of 
        water resources exist due to variations in seasonal and annual 
        precipitation in different parts of the world;
Whereas although water is the most widely occurring substance on Earth, only 2.5 
        percent of all water is freshwater, with a large portion trapped in 
        glaciers and ice caps, and the remainder is salt water;
Whereas freshwater resources are further reduced by various forms of industrial, 
        chemical, human, and agricultural pollution;
Whereas the drainage of wetlands for agriculture and the dissipation of water 
        sources by land clearance lead to further exacerbation of water 
        scarcity;
Whereas according to the United Nations, by the middle of this century, global 
        water demand could rise by 30 percent and as many as three billion 
        people could be water-scarce;
Whereas the poor are the most affected by water scarcity, with two billion 
        people lacking safe drinking water at home;
Whereas water-related diseases are among the most common causes of illness and 
        death, afflicting primarily the poor in developing countries;
Whereas initiatives that promote access to safe drinking water and sanitation 
        that prevents contaminants from infiltrating fresh drinking water 
        supplies are vital tools in raising the awareness of the importance of 
        freshwater to the quality of life; and
Whereas freshwater is vital to the development, sustainability, and progression 
        of all humanity: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of World Water Day;
            (2) recognizes the importance of conserving and managing 
        water resources for sustainable development, including 
        environmental integrity and the eradication of poverty and 
        hunger, and human health and overall quality of life in the 
        United States and across the globe;
            (3) recognizes the contributions of fundamental science and 
        engineering research, funded by the National Science Foundation 
        (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 
        Department of Energy, the United States Geological Survey 
        (USGS), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
        (NOAA), and others, to understanding and improving water 
        systems and their interconnections with food and energy;
            (4) encourages public participation in water research 
        through citizen science and crowdsourcing; and
            (5) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        World Water Day with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, 
        activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of water 
        and water conservation to humanity.
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