[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H4588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          WATER FOR THE WORLD

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest environmental 
threats in the entire globe is the supply and quality of water.
  In honor of the 39th annual Earth Day Celebration, I'm proud to 
introduce the Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009. The purpose 
of this act is to empower the United States Government to respond to 
the pressing environmental, poverty and security threats presented by 
mismanagement and shortage of global fresh water.
  Today, one-fifth of the world's population relies on fresh water 
that's either polluted or inadequately supplied. The lack of safe 
drinking water and sanitation remains the world's greatest health 
problem, accounting for 2 million deaths and half the illnesses in the 
developing world.
  The bipartisan ``Water for the World Act'' builds upon the framework 
of our 2005 Water for the Poor Act, expanding United States foreign 
assistance capacity, elevating sustainable water and sanitation policy, 
and investing in low-cost, high-impact solutions.
  There are lots of things that divide us here in Congress, but one of 
the things that brings us together is a commitment to make the world 
and its environment better. And I deeply appreciate the leadership of 
my colleagues, Congressmen Donald Payne, Wamp, Rohrabacher, Boozman and 
Burton in joining me on this Earth Day to enact this important 
legislation.

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