[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17174-17182]
[From the U.S. 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.
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;

[[Page 17175]]

       (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 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

[[Page 17176]]

     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, 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

[[Page 17177]]

     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.
       (6) With respect to projects and activities that are 
     managed by communities or institutions, effective external 
     support should be

[[Page 17178]]

     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

[[Page 17179]]

     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:
       ``(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

[[Page 17180]]

     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 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)

[[Page 17181]]

     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--
       ``(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);

[[Page 17182]]

       ``(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) 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.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Mr. Blumenauer and 
Mr. Poe for their hard work on H.R. 2901, the Senator Paul Simon Water 
for the World Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation, 
and was pleased to work closely with the bill's sponsors and Chairman 
Royce to bring the bill through our Foreign Affairs Committee and onto 
the floor today.
  This legislation enjoys broad support from a coalition of nearly 80 
civil society groups that are dedicated to developing access to clean 
water around the world, and it has more than 100 bipartisan cosponsors 
in the House.
  Congress has long been committed to making the United States a global 
leader in improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. America 
and its international partners have provided clean water to millions of 
the world's poorest people. This investment has saved countless lives, 
but there is much more work to be done.
  More than 750 million people still lack access to clean water. Twenty 
percent of the global population remains dependent on water that is 
either polluted or drastically overdrawn. Two and a half billion do not 
have proper sanitation facilities. Nearly 1 in every 5 deaths among 
children under age 5 are caused by water-related diseases, and 3.4 
million people die from inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene every 
year. These problems are not merely social injustices but pose a 
significant obstacle to security and economic prosperity across wide 
regions of the world.
  This bill will make our existing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) 
programs more effective by establishing priorities and focusing on 
areas with the greatest need and the most potential. It will enhance 
oversight and coordination by requiring the designation of a Global 
Water Coordinator at USAID and a Global Water Advisor at the Department 
of State, and it will update strategic planning by calling for an 
improved Global Water Strategy. These changes will enhance the 
investments we are already making through USAID and the Department of 
State.
  Through these steps, H.R. 2901 will help ensure that our water 
development programs continue to save lives and improve health for 
millions of people in need around the world. I encourage my colleagues 
to support this important bill and hope the other body will give this 
legislation the expedited consideration it deserves.
  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.

                          ____________________