[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S9690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HALF THE WORLD'S POPULATION LIVES WITHOUT BASIC SANITATION

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, Senator McConnell and I have worked 
this year to bring more attention and resources to combat infectious 
diseases, which afflict many millions of people around the world and 
pose a serious public health threat to Americans both here and abroad. 
The scope of this problem was illustrated in a July 23 article in the 
New York Times, about the UNICEF 1997 ``Progress of Nations'' report 
which revealed that nearly half of the world population does not have 
access to basic sanitation.
  For most Americans, it is hard to fathom living without something as 
basic as a clean toilet. Yet over 2 million children die each year from 
diseases and diarrhea directly related to a lack of basic sanitation. 
Some of the countries with populations suffering from the worst 
sanitation problems, including Haiti and Cambodia, have received 
millions of dollars in United States and international aid. Addressing 
these basic needs should be a priority of our assistance programs in 
these countries.
  Mr. President, the United States cannot fund the infrastructure to 
provide clean water and sanitary sewer systems for the 3 billion people 
in the world who currently lack such basic necessities. That is beyond 
our means or responsibilities. However, we should do all we can. The 
developing countries themselves are investing approximately $200 
billion a year on new infrastructure. The Agency for International 
Development is currently spending about $44 million on urban 
infrastructure projects in parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and 
Eastern Europe, among other regions. This has shrunk from the $150 
million in loan guarantees that were available in 1993 for similar 
projects.
  Epidemics that spread in unsanitary living conditions can and will 
become threats in the United States. Both the Senate and House fiscal 
year 1998 Foreign Operations appropriations bills provide additional 
money to combat infectious diseases. I am hopeful that with these 
additional resources, AID, the World Health Organization, the Center 
for Disease Control, and other government and international agencies 
and private organizations involved in this effort, will be able to 
develop a coherent plan to expand research, provide training and 
medicines to public health officials, and help establish the global 
surveillance and response system necessary to combat these 
diseases.

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