[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 142 (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6154-S6157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Corker, Mr. Coons, and Mr. 
        Flake):
  S. 2946. A bill to provide improved water, sanitation, and hygiene 
programs for high priority developing countries, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2946

       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''.

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     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;

[[Page S6156]]

       ``(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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