[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8848-H8856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATOR PAUL SIMON WATER FOR THE WORLD ACT OF 2013
Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the
Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration
of the bill (H.R. 2901) to strengthen implementation of the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 by improving the capacity of
the United States Government to implement, leverage, and monitor and
evaluate programs to provide first-time or improved access to safe
drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene to the world's poorest on an
equitable and sustainable basis, and for other purposes, and ask for
its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2901
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Senator
Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 4. Purpose.
Sec. 5. Improving coordination and oversight of safe water, sanitation,
and hygiene projects and activities.
[[Page H8849]]
Sec. 6. Increasing sustainability of safe water, sanitation, and
hygiene projects and activities.
Sec. 7. United States complimentary strategies to increase sustainable,
affordable, and equitable access to safe water,
sanitation, and hygiene.
Sec. 8. Transparency and monitoring and evaluation.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533)--
(A) makes access to affordable, equitable, and sustainable
clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for developing countries
a specific policy objective of United States foreign
assistance programs;
(B) requires the United States Government to--
(i) develop a strategy to elevate and further the United
States foreign policy and foreign assistance objective to
provide affordable and equitable access to safe water,
sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries; and
(ii) improve the effectiveness and targeting of United
States assistance programs undertaken in support of that
strategy;
(C) codifies Target 10 of the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals; and
(D) seeks to reduce by half between 1990 (the baseline
year) and 2015--
(i) the proportion of people who are unable to reach or
afford safe drinking water; and
(ii) the proportion of people without access to basic
sanitation.
(2) For maximum effectiveness of assistance, safe drinking
water, sanitation, and hygiene must be coordinated with and
reflected in programs and strategies for food security,
global health, environment, education, gender equality, and
conflict prevention and mitigation.
(3) On February 2, 2012, the United States national
intelligence community released a National Intelligence
Estimate on Global Water Security, which found that--
(A) over the next decade, countries of strategic importance
to the United States will experience water shortages, poor
water quality, or floods, that will risk instability or state
failure and increase regional tensions;
(B) water problems may pose a risk to global food markets
and economic growth, and may harm the economic performance of
important trading partners;
(C) water stresses compound existing problems, such as
poverty, social tension, and ill-health and without good
management of water food supplies will be reduced and water
borne diseases will increase; and
(D) pressure will arise for a more engaged United States to
make water a global priority and to support major development
projects.
(4) On August 1, 2008, Congress passed House Concurrent
Resolution 318, which--
(A) supports the goals and ideals of the International Year
of Sanitation; and
(B) recognizes the importance of sanitation on public
health, poverty reduction, economic and social development,
and the environment.
(5) According to the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,
commissioned by the United Nations, more than one-fifth of
the world's population relies on freshwater sources that are
either polluted or excessively withdrawn. Healthy ecosystems
provide multiple water-related services, such as flood
control and water purification, upon which human security,
health and well-being depend. Therefore, measures aiming to
maintain or restore those services ensure the long-term
sustainability of strategies to secure safe and reliable
access to water and sanitation.
(6) While progress is being made on safe water and
sanitation efforts--
(A) more than 783,000,000 people throughout the world lack
access to safe drinking water; and
(B) approximately 35 percent of the total global population
does not have access to basic sanitation services.
(7) A lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation
has disproportionate, and too often deadly impacts on
children:
(A) Water and sanitation-related disease, despite being
preventable, remains one of the most significant child health
problems worldwide. Diarrhea is the most serious of these
diseases, alone killing over 3,000 children each day, and is
the second biggest cause of death in children in the post
neonatal period, aged one month to 5 years. Ninety percent of
all people that die from diarrheal disease are children under
the age of 5. Eighty-eight percent of diarrheal disease is
attributed to unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation
and poor hygiene.
(B) Even when bouts of diarrhea don't kill, these episodes
can physically and mentally stunt children, affecting them
for the rest of their lives.
(C) Having adequate and appropriate water supply and
sanitation facilities in schools is a major factor
influencing whether children, and especially adolescent
girls, attend school.
(D) Adequate sanitation facilities and practices
contributes to reducing malnutrition in children, improves
the quality of life and dignity of girls and women, protects
the environment, and generates economic benefits for
communities and nations.
(8) The health and environmental consequences of unsafe
drinking water and poor sanitation are significant,
accounting for nearly 10 percent of the global burden of
disease, and as further indicated by the following:
(A) At any given time, half of the hospital beds in
developing countries are occupied by patients suffering from
diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking
water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene.
(B) More than 3,575,000 people die each year from water-
related disease.
(C) Chronic or acute diarrhea can lead to cognitive delays,
with severe repercussions for economic development.
(D) Lack of adequate sanitation contaminates rivers
worldwide, as one of the most significant sources of water
pollution. Every day, 2,000,000 tons of untreated sewage and
industrial and agricultural waste are discharged into the
world's freshwaters.
(9) Clean water and sanitation are among the most powerful
drivers for human development. They extend opportunity,
enhance dignity, and help create a virtuous cycle of
improving health and rising wealth.
(10) Diseases linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation,
as well as the time and energy women often devote to
collecting water, significantly reduce economic productivity
in less developed countries and promote lifecycles of
disadvantage.
(11) Expanding access to clean water, sanitation, and
hygiene, while protecting the natural infrastructures that
store, deliver, and purify water for nature and people, are
essential steps in reducing the global burden of disease,
advancing sustainable economic and social development,
protecting basic human rights, preventing violence against
girls and women, and mitigating sources of conflict
associated with water scarcity, mass migration, and water
related disasters, both within and between countries.
(12) Nearly 1,000,000,000 people across the globe still
suffer from chronic hunger. Water scarcity and poor water
management reduce agricultural productivity and add pressures
on valuable fisheries, posing a major threat to food security
and local livelihoods, and limits the ability of the world to
provide the resources necessary for the doubling of food
production that will be required to meet the demands of a
projected population of 9,000,000,000 people by 2050.
(13) 2.8 billion people in more than 48 countries are
expected to face severe and chronic water shortages by 2025,
with major impacts on energy and food security, development,
livelihoods, human health, and natural infrastructure.
(14) Agriculture consumes 70 percent of all freshwater
withdrawn globally. Global increases in the efficiency and
productivity of both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture will
be needed to meet future food production requirements.
(15) Approximately half the world's population lives in
cities, often in slums characterized by unsafe water, poor
sanitation, lack of basic services, overcrowding, inferior
construction and insecure tenure.
(16) According to the United Nations, women make up 70
percent of the world's poor. Yet, the time they spend
collecting water prevents them from undertaking other
activities, such as generating income or attending school.
(17) A lack of access to safe water and improved sanitation
close to home and at school can impact girls' educational
attainment and retention, limiting their ability to break the
cycle of poverty. Research has found increases in girls'
school enrollment when clean water points were installed
closer to home, and increases in girls' school attendance
when separate latrines for boys and girls were provided on
site. Meeting Target 10 of the Millennium Development Goals
for water and sanitation would provide an estimated
272,000,000 additional school days per year.
(18) A lack of water points close to home or safe, private
latrines can put women and girls in isolated situations,
making them more vulnerable to sexual and physical violence.
Violence against women and girls has consequences ranging
from psychosocial trauma to heightened risk of HIV/AIDS.
(19) Faith communities and nonprofit development and
conservation organizations across the United States
contribute significantly to the improvement of water,
sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries. By applying
their expertise, providing services, building the capacity of
local organizations, establishing long-term partnerships with
local communities, empowering marginalized groups, supporting
sustainable water management and serving as a voice for the
poor, faith-based and nonprofit organizations complement and
leverage assistance provided by the United States Government.
(20) United States businesses have developed key
technologies, donated goods and services, partnered with
private and public sector entities, and invested their
capital to improve water and sanitation and freshwater
sources in many developing countries. Corporate actors have
also partnered with other stakeholders to implement
sustainable water management and water use efficiency within
their plants and throughout their supply chain.
(21) Implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005 must be significantly strengthened if the
purposes of section 135 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2152h; relating to assistance to provide safe
water and sanitation), as added by section 5(a) of the
Senator Paul
[[Page H8850]]
Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, are to be met.
(22) The monitoring and evaluation of the performance of
United States foreign assistance programs and their
contribution to policy, strategies, projects, program goals,
and priorities undertaken by the Federal Government is
essential to improving aid effectiveness.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) In May 2013, the United States Agency for International
Development released a Water and Development Strategy, whose
goal is ``to save lives and advance development through
improvements in water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
programs, and through sound management and use of water for
food security.''.
(2) The Water and Development Strategy states that it
supports the efforts of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005 ``by advancing many activities consistent
with the goals of the Act.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the initial United States Agency for International
Development's Water and Development Strategy, released in May
2013--
(A) is a significant accomplishment and improves the
Agency's capacity to provide sustainable and effective water,
sanitation, and hygiene assistance;
(B) is supportive of and should continue to reinforce the
United States foreign policy and development objectives for
clean water, sanitation, and hygiene;
(C) should be refined and expanded by the United States
Agency for International Development as often as necessary to
ensure best practices are used and the purposes of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law
109-121; 119 Stat. 2533) and this Act are met, should target
the world's poorest and those suffering from the lowest
levels of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and
hygiene, and should be updated by the Agency not later than
every 5 years, to more fully meet the requirements and spirit
of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and
section 135 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2152h), as added by section 5(a) of the Senator Paul Simon
Water for the Poor Act of 2005; and
(D) is not, on its own, the holistic United States water
strategy required by the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005, but instead addresses components of a
comprehensive strategy for how the United States plans to
support the United States foreign policy and development
objectives and measure its success towards the objectives
required by the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of
2005 and this Act, and must be complimented by the
development of a whole-of-government United States Government
global water strategy aimed at creating an enabling
environment through diplomatic channels for the Agency's
water, sanitation, and hygiene programming that will better
allow the Agency to succeed in its mission; and
(2) the Secretary of State, acting through the Special
Advisor for Water Resources (established by 136(f) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961), as added by section
5(a)(2)(C) of this Act, and in collaboration and consultation
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, should develop a Global Water
Resources Strategy relating to United States foreign policy
objectives for water, pursuant to section 6(a) of the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, as added by
section 7 of this Act, that--
(A) articulates a vision for the role played by the
Department of State, including in its power as a convener, in
addressing the foreign policy and national security issues
identified in the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act
of 2005 and this Act, the 2012 National Intelligence Estimate
on Global Water Security, and other relevant whole-of-
government assessments, strategies, and approaches;
(B) is an ambitious United States foreign policy framework
that advances the objectives of the Senator Paul Simon Water
for the Poor Act of 2005 and this Act to provide sustainable
access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene to
poor and marginalized people through improved United States
diplomatic efforts to build political will and coordination
across the Federal Government to better enable United States
Government agencies and partners to meet their international
development objectives;
(C) is complementary to, supportive of, and does not
inhibit, the Water and Development Strategy, and establishes
clear roles and responsibilities insofar as possible among
Federal agencies and departments responsible for jointly
carrying out the strategy, as required by section 6(b) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, as added
by section 7 of this Act.
SEC. 4. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act and the amendments made by this Act
is to strengthen implementation of the Senator Paul Simon
Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat.
2533) by--
(1) improving coordination and oversight of international
water, sanitation, hygiene, and sustainable water management
programs within and between United States Government
agencies;
(2) increasing the sustainability of United States
Government-supported water, sanitation, and hygiene programs,
including in terms of affordability, accountability, and
financial, operational, institutional, and environmental
sustainability;
(3) enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene expertise
within the United States Agency for International Development
and the Department of State, which shall include a whole of
agency approach to establish a learning agenda aimed at
increasing the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of
the United States Government-supported water, sanitation, and
hygiene programs; and
(4) ensuring water, sanitation, and hygiene programs and
strategies are reflected in and supported by other
development initiatives such as food security, global health,
environment, education, gender quality, and conflict
prevention and mitigation within and between countries, with
the goal of meeting the needs of the poorest and most
marginalized people.
SEC. 5. IMPROVING COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT OF SAFE WATER,
SANITATION, AND HYGIENE PROJECTS AND
ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 135, as added by section 5(a)
of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2536; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note),
as section 136; and
(2) in section 136, as redesignated by paragraph (1) of
this section--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``and sanitation''
and inserting ``, sanitation, and hygiene'';
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``and sanitation'' and
inserting ``, sanitation, and hygiene''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(e) Global Water Coordinator.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) shall designate
a senior advisor to coordinate and oversee the Agency's
programs in developing countries that seek to provide
affordable and equitable access to safe water, sanitation,
and hygiene, who shall be known as the `Global Water
Coordinator', who shall administer and oversee an office to
be known as the Office of Water, Sanitation, and Development,
and who shall report directly to the Administrator and the
Assistant Administrator overseeing water programs.
``(2) Duties.--The Global Water Coordinator shall--
``(A) oversee implementation of this section, the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-
121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) and the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013;
``(B) oversee the buildup of capacity and expertise within
USAID to implement this section, the Senator Paul Simon Water
for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533;
22 U.S.C. 2152h note), and the Senator Paul Simon Water for
the World Act of 2013, including--
``(i) by appointing USAID mission water advisors in each
high priority country, who--
``(I) shall have or be given the opportunity to fully
develop their technical skills and competencies necessary to
provide appropriate guidance to technical and program staff
to ensure the Water and Development Strategy can be
successfully implemented; and
``(II) shall ensure water, sanitation, and hygiene
objectives and indicators are reflected throughout program
planning and budgeting documents;
``(ii) work with USAID regional bureaus, who shall be the
primary liaisons between the Global Water Coordinator and
mission water advisors, to ensure water, sanitation, and
hygiene projects are reflected in country-specific multiyear
strategies, multiyear sector strategies, and project designs
in each high priority country; and
``(iii) ensure that water, sanitation, hygiene and water
management issues are incorporated into all relevant Agency
training programs at the office, regional, and mission
levels;
``(C) lead the implementation of the Water and Development
Strategy and oversee the review and development no later than
every 5 years of an updated Water and Development Strategy
such that it more clearly meets the requirements of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and this
Act;
``(D) assist and monitor the development of country-
specific and, where appropriate, regional water strategies,
whether independent, or as part of broader USAID country-
specific or regional strategies, in coordination with
relevant USAID mission directors, other appropriate
personnel, and pursuant to the interagency consultation and
coordination process as required by section 5(b) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, ensuring
such strategies reflect best practices as they relate to
increasing access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
activities, and sustainable water management;
``(E) ensure sustainable and equitable access to clean
water, sanitation, and hygiene are reflected in strategies
and broader USAID policies or strategies, including policies
or strategies relating to food security,
[[Page H8851]]
global health, environment, education, gender equality, and
conflict prevention and mitigation;
``(F) develop appropriate benchmarks, measurable goals,
performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for
water, sanitation, and hygiene programs in accordance with
and as required by sections 6 and 7 of the Senator Paul Simon
Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat.
2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note);
``(G) ensure programming for sustainable water management,
and equitable access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
are reflected across USAID programming in a manner consistent
with the long-term sustainability of service outcomes and
freshwater sources; and
``(H) foster the development, dissemination, and increased
and consistent use of low-cost and sustainable technologies,
public and private partnerships, credit guarantees and other
financing arrangements that leverage non-Federal funds for
impact on equitable access to affordable water, sanitation,
and hygiene services that will provide long-term benefits to
the world's poorest communities.
``(3) Staff.--The Administrator shall ensure that a
sufficient number of employees with appropriate experience or
expertise are reassigned or detailed from within USAID to
assist the Global Water Coordinator in carrying out the
duties of paragraph (2).
``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection--
``(A) the term `high priority country' means a low-income
or lower-middle income country designated pursuant to section
6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act
of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note) and enumerated in the strategy required by such Act,
the first iteration of which was released by USAID in May
2013; and
``(B) the term `Water and Development Strategy' means the
strategy released by USAID in May 2013 and its revisions,
required to be developed as soon as practicable after the
date of the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
World Act of 2013, but no less than 5 years after such date
of enactment and every 5 years thereafter under section 6(b)
of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note).
``(f) Special Advisor for Water Resources.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall designate a
senior advisor to develop, coordinate, and oversee United
States foreign policy relating to freshwater resources and
policies complementary to, and in support of, the United
States Agency for International Development's Water and
Development Strategy, who shall be known as the `Special
Advisor for Water Resources', and who shall report directly
to the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary overseeing
water programs.
``(2) Duties.--The Special Advisor for Water Resources
shall--
``(A) oversee and coordinate the development and
implementation of approaches to increasing political will and
government support in partner countries in accordance with
United States foreign policy on drinking water, sanitation,
hygiene, water resource management, and transboundary water,
including--
``(i) working with partner countries and other stakeholders
to develop, sustain, and leverage political and financial
commitments that would improve access to safe drinking water,
sanitation, and hygiene, and sustainable water management
over the long term;
``(ii) assisting and encouraging other countries and
international organizations to plan and manage water
resources in an efficient, transparent, equitable, inclusive,
and environmentally sustainable manner, taking into account
the interdependence among water, food, energy, and
sustainable development;
``(iii) fostering regional and cross-border cooperation for
integrated management, use and protection of internationally
shared rivers, lakes, and aquifer systems;
``(iv) preventing and mitigating intra- and trans-boundary
conflict over water resources, including through efforts to
strengthen international water law and institutions as tools
for facilitating cooperation;
``(v) working with partner countries, international
organizations, and other stakeholders to manage water
resources in ways that reduce risk and impact from potential
water-related shocks such as, but not limited to, droughts or
floods, including for improved global food security; and
``(vi) fostering increased agricultural and urban
productivity of water resources;
``(B) promote and be the representative for United States
policy relating to global freshwater issues in key diplomatic
and scientific forums; and
``(C) lead the development and implementation of the Global
Water Resources Strategy required by section 6(a) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law
109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) and oversee
the review of and update to not later than every 5 years the
Global Water Resources Strategy to reflect pressing global
challenges and changes.
``(3) Staff.--The Secretary of State shall ensure that a
sufficient number of employees of the Department of State
with appropriate experience or expertise are reassigned or
detailed from within the Department of State to assist the
Special Advisor for Water Resources in carrying out the
duties of paragraph (2).
``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection--
``(A) the term `Water and Development Strategy' means the
strategy released by USAID in May 2013 and its revisions,
required to be developed as soon as practicable after the
date of the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
World Act of 2013, but no less than 5 years after such date
of enactment and every 5 years thereafter under section 6(b)
of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note);
and
``(B) the term `Global Water Resources Strategy' means the
strategy required under section 6(a) of the Senator Paul
Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119
Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note).''.
(b) Interagency Consultation and Coordination.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development and the Secretary
of State shall develop and implement a process to ensure
regular consultation and coordination between the Global
Water Coordinator and the Special Advisor for Water Resources
so that their efforts are complimentary and in support of the
implementation, and subsequent revision not later than every
5 years, of the Global Water Resources Strategy and the Water
and Development Strategy.
(2) Matters to be included.--The process required under
paragraph (1) should include jointly convened meetings with
any Federal department or agency administering United States
water, sanitation, and hygiene programs to evaluate progress
in carrying out the strategies described in paragraph (1), or
the revision to any such strategy, as required by section 6
of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note),
as amended by section 7 of this Act.
(3) Definitions.--In this subsection--
(A) the term ``Global Water Coordinator'' means the Global
Water Coordinator designated under section 136(e) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by subsection (a)(2)
of this section;
(B) the term ``Global Water Resources Strategy'' means the
strategy required under section 6(a) of the Senator Paul
Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119
Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by section 7 of
this Act;
(C) the term ``Special Advisor for Water Resources'' means
the Special Advisor for Water Resources designated under
section 136(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as
added by subsection (a)(2) of this section; and
(D) the term ``Water and Development Strategy'' means the
strategy released by USAID in May 2013 and its revisions,
required to be developed as soon as practicable after the
date of the enactment of this Act, but no less than 5 years
after such date of enactment and every 5 years thereafter
under section 6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22
U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by section 7 of this Act.
SEC. 6. INCREASING SUSTAINABILITY OF SAFE WATER, SANITATION,
AND HYGIENE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES.
(a) Principles.--In order to ensure that water, sanitation,
and hygiene projects and activities of the United States
Agency for International Development carried out under the
authorities of section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, as redesignated and amended by section 5 of this Act,
and the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note),
as amended by this Act, achieve maximum impact and continue
to deliver lasting benefits after completion, such projects
and activities shall be carried out in accordance with, and
monitored and evaluated against the following principles:
(1) Projects and activities should be targeted to the
poorest and most vulnerable countries and communities,
including women and girls, displaced persons and refugees,
and other marginalized populations.
(2) Projects and activities should be designed in
consultation with a broad range of local and national
stakeholders, including communities directly affected by a
lack of access to clean water, sanitation or hygiene,
nongovernmental organizations, cooperatives, foundations,
universities, private sector entities, and women-focused
organizations.
(3) Projects and activities to provide services for the
poor should be designed wherever possible to be financially
or commercially viable over the long term, focusing on local
ownership and sustainability, and undertaken in conjunction
with relevant public institutions or private enterprise so
long as they can provide access to water, sanitation, and
hygiene in such a way that strengthens social equity of
access and keeps these services affordable to all, especially
the poorest of the poor.
(4) Governments of countries in which projects and
activities are carried out should identify revenue streams
sufficient to cover the costs of maintaining public equipment
and services with respect to such projects and activities
over the long term.
(5) Projects and activities should provide for a
functioning management and maintenance system comprising
tools, supply chains, transport, equipment, training and
individuals or institutions with clear responsibilities for
achieving sustainability.
[[Page H8852]]
(6) With respect to projects and activities that are
managed by communities or institutions, effective external
support should be provided to such communities or
institutions.
(7) Projects should be designed to provide access to water,
sanitation, and hygiene, and sustainable water management
through joint programs and other coordinated mechanisms and
policies, in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of
the results achieved, to mitigate any negative environmental
impacts, and to ensure the resilience of natural and man-made
infrastructure to floods, droughts, and other water-related
disasters.
(8) Access to water and sanitation should be expanded in an
equitable manner and on the basis of need, without regard to
race, gender, religion, or ethnic origin.
(b) Local Ownership.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development shall establish
guidelines and procedures to ensure that--
(1) a broad range of local and national stakeholders is
consulted in the development of any country-specific water
strategy;
(2) any water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and
activities authorized under each such strategy are designed
to address the specific needs of women and girls; and
(3) local civil society organizations, including nonprofit
organizations as well as businesses, are full participants in
the selection and design, implementation, monitoring, and
evaluation of water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and
activities.
(c) Local Procurement.--
(1) Authority.--In providing assistance under the
authorities of section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, as redesignated and amended by section 5 of this Act,
the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development is authorized to award contracts
and other acquisition instruments on a noncompetitive basis
to local entities in high priority countries to carry out
safe water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities
in such countries.
(2) Limitation.--A contract or other instrument described
in paragraph (1) may not have a value that exceeds
$5,000,000.
(3) Supersedes other laws.--The Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development may exercise the
authority of paragraph (1) notwithstanding any other
provision of law.
(4) Definitions.--In this subsection--
(A) the term ``high priority country'' means a low-income
or lower-middle income country designated pursuant to section
6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act
of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note), as amended by section 7 of this Act; and
(B) the term ``local entity'' means an individual,
corporation, or other entity that--
(i) is organized under the laws of the high priority
country;
(ii) has its principal place of business or operations in
such country; and
(iii) is owned or controlled by citizens of such country.
(5) Funding.--Funds made available to carry out the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-
121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) for any fiscal
year are authorized to be made available to carry out this
subsection.
(d) Retention of Interest.--
(1) Authority.--In providing assistance under the
authorities of section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, as redesignated and amended by section 5 of this Act,
the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development is authorized to enter into
agreements with indigenous local private or public groups,
associations, or other entities in high priority countries to
provide for the retention by such group, association, or
other entity, without deposit in the Treasury of the United
States and without further appropriation by law, of interest
earned on such assistance so provided.
(2) Limitation.--An agreement described in paragraph (1)
may not have a value that exceeds $5,000,000.
(3) Use of interest.--Any interest earned on the advance of
funds under an agreement authorized under paragraph (1) may
be used only for the purposes for which the agreement is
made.
(4) Audits.--The Administrator shall, on a regular and
recurring basis, audit interest earned on advance funds under
an agreement authorized under paragraph (1) to ensure that
the requirements of paragraph (3) are met.
(5) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``high
priority country'' means a low-income or lower-middle income
country designated pursuant to section 6(b)(2)(C) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law
109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by
section 7 of this Act.
SEC. 7. UNITED STATES COMPLIMENTARY STRATEGIES TO INCREASE
SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS
TO SAFE WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE.
Section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act
of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 6. UNITED STATES COMPLIMENTARY STRATEGIES TO INCREASE
SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS
TO SAFE WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE.
``(a) Global Water Resources Strategy.--
``(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World
Act of 2013, and every 5 years thereafter, the President,
acting through the Secretary of State, shall develop a
strategy to further the United States foreign policy
objective to provide affordable and equitable access to safe
water and sanitation in developing countries, as described in
section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and by the
Agency's Water and Development Strategy required under
subsection (b).
``(2) Contents.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall--
``(A) articulate the United States foreign policy framework
that will drive the implementation of the United States
foreign policy objectives on increasing access to equitable,
clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for the world's
poorest, water resource management, transboundary water and
prevention of conflict over water resources; and
``(B) address ways in which United States foreign policy
efforts will promote global water security by building
political will and partnerships, and support for national
level planning processes, in conjunction with the United
States Agency for International Development and other Federal
agencies, and leveraging expertise, knowledge, technology and
resources that will increase the likelihood that the world's
poor receive or continue to have the water they need, when
and where they need it, in a sustainable, equitable and
conflict-free manner.
``(3) Consultation.--The strategy required by paragraph (1)
shall be developed in consultation with the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development, the
heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies,
international organizations, international financial
institutions, recipient governments, United States and
international nongovernmental organizations, indigenous civil
society, and other appropriate entities, and shall be
complimentary to, or ultimately joined with, the Agency's
Water and Development Strategy required under subsection (b)
and subsequent revisions thereto.
``(4) Implementation.--The Secretary of State, acting
through the Under Secretary of State who has responsibility
to oversee water programs and the Special Advisor for Water
Resources, shall implement the strategy required under
paragraph (1). The strategy may also be implemented in part
by other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate.
``(5) Consistent with safe water and sanitation policy.--
The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall be consistent
with the policy stated in section 3 of this Act.
``(6) Content.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
``(A) specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, and
timetables to achieve the objective described in paragraph
(1);
``(B) an assessment of the level of funding and other
assistance for United States water and sanitation programs
needed each by the United States Department of State year to
achieve the goals, benchmarks, and timetables described in
subparagraph (A);
``(C) methods to coordinate and integrate United States
water, water resources and sanitation assistance carried out
by the Department of State with water, sanitation, hygiene
and water resource development programs carried out by the
United States Agency for International Development and other
Federal agencies to achieve the objective described in
paragraph (1);
``(D) methods to better coordinate United States water and
sanitation assistance programs with programs of other donor
countries and entities to achieve the objective described in
paragraph (1); and
``(E) an assessment of the commitment of governments of
countries that receive assistance under section 136 of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to policies or policy reforms
that support affordable and equitable access by the people of
such countries to safe water and sanitation.
``(b) Water and Development Strategy.--
``(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World
Act of 2013, but no less than 5 years after such date of
enactment and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development,
acting through the Global Water Coordinator and in
consultation with the Special Advisor for Water Resources,
shall develop a strategy, to be known as the `Water and
Development Strategy', to further, through the United States
Agency for International Development, the United States
foreign assistance objective to provide affordable,
equitable, and sustainable access to safe drinking water,
sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries, as described
in section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Such
strategy shall be complimentary to the United States foreign
policy objectives of the safe water and sanitation strategy
required under subsection (a) and shall be transmitted to the
appropriate congressional committees and made publicly
available on the Internet.
``(2) Contents.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall provide an ambitious vision for leadership of the
international development objectives of this Act and the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013 and meet
the following requirements:
[[Page H8853]]
``(A) Consistency with safe water, sanitation, and hygiene
policy.--The strategy shall be consistent with the policy
stated in section 3 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22
U.S.C. 2152h note).
``(B) Criteria for determining high priority countries.--
The strategy shall identify low-income and lower-middle
income countries with a severe lack of access to affordable,
equitable, and sustainable safe drinking water, sanitation
and hygiene, by assessing--
``(i) the government or nongovernmental organizational
capacity or commitment to manage and implement affordable,
equitable, and sustainable solutions, in accordance with
section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act
of 2013;
``(ii) opportunities to leverage existing indigenous public
sector, local, donor or private sector investments in the
water, sanitation and water resource management sector;
``(iii) the number of people and percent of the population
without access to an improved source of safe drinking water
in or close to home, disaggregated by rural, peri-urban, or
urban geographic location;
``(iv) the number of people and percent of the population
without access to an improved source of sanitation in or
close to home, disaggregated by rural, peri-urban, or urban
geographic location;
``(v) the mortality rate and number of deaths of children
under 5 years old due to diarrhea;
``(vi) the mortality rate and number of deaths of children
under 5 years old due to pneumonia;
``(vii) the number and proportion of children under 5 years
old who are under-nourished;
``(viii) the average time burden of water collection in
rural areas;
``(ix) the coexistence in a single geographic area of two
or more diseases categorized as a neglected tropical disease
spread in whole or in part due to lack of access to safe
drinking water, sanitation or hygiene, as defined by the
Agency; and
``(x) the degree to which water, sanitation, and hygiene
programs are identified as a priority by a beneficiary
government, region, or community, as identified in national
plans and strategies and the country-specific multiyear
strategies as developed by the Agency mission in consultation
with the national government and civil society.
``(C) Designating high priority countries.--The strategy
shall select 10 to 20 of the eligible countries identified
through the assessment required by subparagraph (B) and
identify such countries as `high priority countries'.
``(D) Requirements for high priority countries.--Each
country selected as a high priority country shall be the
focus of the Agency's water, sanitation, and hygiene
programming, and the strategy shall develop comprehensive and
holistic individual country plans for each high priority
country so as to meet the objectives of paragraph (1). Such
plans shall include--
``(i) a results framework, in accordance with the
sustainability principles identified in section 6 of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, and
monitoring and evaluation principles identified in section 7
of this Act, which shall include indicators composed of those
criteria used in paragraph (2) to identify high priority
countries, that shall be used to measure the long-term
impacts and sustainability of programs, including the ongoing
commitment of host-country institutions, or lack thereof, and
increased access to water, sanitation, and hygiene projects,
programs and services provided directly or leveraged by the
United States Government; and
``(ii) a clearly described process by which the strategy
shall be aligned, coordinated, and leveraged with United
States development strategies, policies, and international
development initiatives that operate within the high priority
country, to include coordination with and reflected in the
high priority country's comprehensive strategy for United
States Government-supported development assistance.
``(E) Additional requirements for high priority
countries.--For each high priority country, the Agency's
mission director for such country shall--
``(i) designate sustainably increasing access to safe
drinking water and sanitation as a strategic objective,
reflected in country-specific strategies that incorporate
sustainable water management goals and targets in accordance
with this Act; and
``(ii) ensure, where complimentary, that the benefits of
safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene are reflected in
other development initiatives.
``(3) Rule of construction relating to initial strategy.--
The Agency's Water and Development Strategy, issued in May
2013, shall be deemed to be the initial strategy required
under paragraph (1) and shall be updated in a timely manner
as required by paragraph (1).
``(4) Implementation plan.--Not later than 90 days after
the date of transmission of the initial strategy required
under paragraph (1), the Global Water Coordinator shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees an
implementation plan detailing how the United States Agency
for International Development will institutionalize the
strategy, including--
``(A) the budget resources needed to achieve the goals,
benchmarks, and timetables described in this subsection, and
an assessment of what will likely be achieved at current
funding levels; and
``(B) the number, types, and levels of specialists and
generalists currently employed, and projected to be needed,
in each functional and geographic area, including support,
management, and administrative functions, to carry out the
strategy.
``(5) Collaboration and coordination.--
``(A) In general.--In developing the strategy required
under paragraph (1)), and the implementation plan required
under paragraph (4), the Global Water Coordinator shall--
``(i) consult with relevant Executive agencies;
``(ii) consult with the Special Advisor for Water
Resources;
``(iii) consult with the Interagency Consultation and
Coordination process as required by section 5(b) of the Paul
Simon Water for the World Act of 2013; and
``(iv) consult with representatives of civil society and
multi-lateral organizations with demonstrated experience in
addressing the lack of access to affordable, equitable and
sustainable safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in
developing countries.
``(B) Public comment.--In carrying out paragraph (1)(D),
the Global Water Coordinator shall allow public comments to
be submitted for consideration through a mechanism of the
Global Water Coordinator's choosing, except that such comment
period shall last not less than 45 days.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Global water coordinator.--The term `Global Water
Coordinator' means the Global Water Coordinator designated
under section 136(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
``(2) Special advisor for water resources.--The term
`Special Advisor for Water Resources' means the Special
Advisor for Water Resources designated under section 136(f)
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.''.
SEC. 8. TRANSPARENCY AND MONITORING AND EVALUATION.
Section 7 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act
of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h
note) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 7. TRANSPARENCY AND MONITORING AND EVALUATION.
``(a) Transparency.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World
Act of 2013, the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development shall, as part of the Agency's
Internet Web site, establish and maintain a Web page to make
publicly available comprehensive, timely, comparable, and
accessible information on United States water, sanitation,
and hygiene foreign assistance programs. The head of each
Federal department or agency that administers such programs
shall on a quarterly basis publish and update on the Web page
such information with respect to programs of the department
or agency.
``(2) Matters to be included.--
``(A) In general.--To ensure transparency, accountability,
and effectiveness of United States water, sanitation, and
hygiene foreign assistance programs, the information required
by paragraph (1) shall include--
``(i) the strategy required by section 6(b) of the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-
121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note);
``(ii) a list of countries that meet the criteria outlined
in section 6(b)(2)(B) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the
Poor Act of 2005;
``(iii) an identification of each country designated as a
high priority country under section 6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, including a fully
articulated rationale of why each country received the
designation;
``(iv) for each fiscal year, information on the amount of
funds expended in each country or program to carry out this
Act and the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of
2005, disaggregated by purpose of assistance, including
information on capital investments, and the source of such
funds by account; and
``(v) evaluations of water, sanitation, and hygiene
programs.
``(B) Posting requirements.--Such information shall be
published on the Web page not later than 30 days after the
date of issuance of the information and shall be continuously
updated.
``(C) Report in lieu of inclusion.--If the head of a
Federal department or agency described in paragraph (1) makes
a determination that the inclusion of a required item of
information on the Web page would jeopardize the health or
security of an implementing partner or program beneficiary or
would be detrimental to the national interests of the United
States, such item of information may be submitted to Congress
in a written report in lieu of including it on the Web page,
along with the reasons for not including it on the Web page.
``(3) Database.--The Web page shall also contain a link to
a searchable database available to the public containing such
information relating to the current fiscal year and, as
available, for each prior fiscal year dating to and including
fiscal year 2006.
``(4) Form.--Such information shall be published on the Web
page in unclassified form. Any information determined to be
classified information may be submitted to Congress
[[Page H8854]]
in classified form and an unclassified summary of such
information shall be published on the Web page.
``(b) Monitoring and Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--With regard to water, sanitation, and
hygiene programming, the Global Water Coordinator shall
ensure that the Agency monitors and evaluates projects and
activities carried out under such programs, including
carrying out assessments of impact where appropriate, and
ensuring results of evaluations are used to inform the design
of such projects and activities. Such monitoring and
evaluations shall--
``(A) be carried out in accordance with, and measured
against the principles described in section 6(b) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and, where
appropriate, the goals established section 6(b)(2)(D) of the
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005; and
``(B) conduct longer term monitoring and evaluation of its
water activities in order to assess sustainability beyond the
typical Agency program cycle and to enable reasonable support
to issues that arise post implementation.
``(2) Mandatory set-aside for monitoring and evaluation.--
Each water, sanitation, and hygiene project shall be planned
and budgeted to include funding for both short- and long-term
monitoring and evaluation so that the United States
Government and other stakeholders can ascertain the long-term
return on investment of United States assistance funds and to
enable learning about the sustainability of assistance
programs and projects that shall inform future projects and
programs.
``(3) When to conduct evaluations.--The evaluation of
water, sanitation, and hygiene projects should include
measurable goals and performance metrics, to be tracked
against an established baseline at the outset. Such
evaluations should occur immediately following the completion
of a project, and no fewer than half of all water,
sanitation, and hygiene projects shall be reevaluated 5 years
after the completion of the project, all in accordance with
the requirements and metrics enumerated in paragraph (1).
``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Monitoring.--The term `monitoring' means, with
respect to a United States water, sanitation, or hygiene
foreign assistance program, a continuing function that uses
systematic collection of data on specified indicators to
provide management and the main stakeholders of an ongoing
development intervention with indications of the extent of
progress and achievement of objectives and progress in the
use of allocated funds.
``(B) Evaluation.--The term `evaluation' means, with
respect to a United States water, sanitation, or hygiene
foreign assistance program, the systematic collection and
analysis of information about the characteristics and
outcomes of the program and projects under the program as a
basis for judgments, to improve effectiveness, and to inform
decisions about current and future programming, including an
explanation of the reasons for or causes of the observed
results.''.
Amendment Offered by Mr. Poe of Texas
Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
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; and
(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.
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 empirical data are available--
[[Page H8855]]
``(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; and
``(3) seeking to further the strategy required under
subsection (j) after 2018.
``(g) Use of Current and Improved Empirical 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
current and improved empirical 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 than 30 days before
using current or improved empirical data collection for the
review of any 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) 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, October
1, 2022, and October 1, 2027, 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 empirical data and other
definitions 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--
[[Page H8856]]
``(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) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `appropriate congressional committees'
means--
``(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
``(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
``(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
``(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
``(2) the term `long-term sustainability' refers to the
ability of a service delivery system, community, partner, or
beneficiary to maintain, over time, any water, sanitation, or
hygiene project that receives funding pursuant to the
amendments made by the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World
Act of 2014.''.
(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.
Mr. POE of Texas (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent to dispense with the reading of the amendment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
The amendment was agreed to.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the
table.
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