[Senate Report 113-286]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 625
113th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     113-286

======================================================================



 
                     SENATOR PAUL SIMON WATER FOR 
                         THE WORLD ACT OF 2014

                                _______
                                

                December 8, 2014.--Ordered to be printed

         Mr. Menendez, from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 2946]

    The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under 
consideration the bill S. 2946, to provide improved water, 
sanitation, and hygiene programs for high priority developing 
countries, and for other purposes, reports favorably thereon, 
with an amendment, and recommends that the bill, as amended, do 
pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page

  I. Purpose..........................................................1
 II. Committee Action.................................................2
III. Background.......................................................2
 IV. Discussion.......................................................2
  V. Cost Estimate....................................................5
 VI. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................5
VII. Changes in Existing Law..........................................5

                               I. Purpose

    The purpose of S. 2946 as amended is to provide improved 
water, sanitation, and hygiene programs for high priority 
developing countries by improving and refining existing 
policies with respect to the allocation of Water, Sanitation, 
and Hygiene (WASH) assistance to countries most in need. S. 
2946 adds hygiene as one of the principal priorities of United 
States safe water projects. S. 2946 also provides for the 
appointment of a USAID Global Water Coordinator and Department 
of State Special Coordinator for Water Resources to ensure WASH 
policies remain a foreign assistance priority. S. 2946 
establishes criteria for the allocation of WASH foreign 
assistance funds to be distributed to developing countries most 
in need of WASH improvements. S. 2946 also directs the State 
Department and USAID to develop and submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a government-wide Global Water 
Strategy no later than October 1, 2017, and every five years 
thereafter. S. 2946 mandates that the Global Water Strategy 
detail how the United States intends to increase safe water 
access in developing countries, manage water resources to 
reduce conflict over water scarcity, and best allocate funds to 
high priority developing countries and countries most in need 
of WASH improvements.

                          II. Committee Action

    S. 2946 was introduced on November 19, 2014, by Senators 
Durbin, Corker, Coons, and Flake. On December 4, 2014, the 
committee considered S. 2946 and ordered it reported favorably 
by voice vote, with an amendment.
    The committee took the following action with regard to 
amendments:
    A proposed amendment from Senator John Barrasso and a 
second-degree amendment proposed by Senator Richard Durbin were 
accepted by voice vote.

                            III. Background

    On December 1, 2005, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the 
Poor Act was enacted into law, making the effort to meet key 
water and sanitation targets a major goal of U.S. foreign 
assistance. Since passage of that Act, USAID and the Department 
of State have worked with other governments to increase access 
to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. As a result of 
U.S. investments, approximately 4.8 million people gained new 
or improved access to drinking water or sanitation in fiscal 
year (FY) 2013, according to the Department of State's 2014 
Annual Report to Congress. The efforts mandated under that Act 
have helped improve access to safe drinking water and proper 
sanitation. In the view of the committee, additional 
refinements to the law are needed to ensure continued progress. 
Many of the newly established WASH efforts at USAID and the 
Department of State are not accounted for in statute and 
additional accountability measures to ensure WASH funding is 
appropriately directed towards countries and regions most in 
need have not been developed or implemented. One fifth of the 
world's population still draws on freshwater resources that are 
either polluted or significantly overdrawn and nearly 2.5 
billion people lack access to proper sanitation. This lack of 
access to quality water resources and proper sanitation is a 
barrier to economic development and improvements in public 
health and child mortality rates and also serves as a source of 
intra- and inter-country conflict.

                             IV. Discussion

    A summary of the key provisions of S. 2946, as amended, 
follows:

Section 1

    Section 1 states the bill may be cited as the ``Senator 
Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014.''

Section 2

    Section 2 states that it is the sense of Congress that 
water, sanitation, and hygiene impacts many areas of life, with 
cross-cutting impacts on other sectors, and as such, the U.S. 
should play a greater role in WASH programming.

Section 3

    Section 3 makes technical corrections to the Water for the 
Poor Act of 2005 by adding ``hygiene'' to the term ``water and 
sanitation,'' since simple hygiene practices, while often 
overlooked, are not only cheaper than other WASH programming, 
but are extremely effective, when implemented correctly, and 
are necessary to meet sanitation goals.

Section 4

    Section 4 requires the USAID Administrator and the 
Secretary of State, or their designees, to provide direction 
and guidance, coordinate, and oversee the projects and programs 
authorized by this Act and the Water for the Poor Act of 2005. 
Section 4 codifies and refines the existing Global Water 
Coordinator at USAID who shall provide direction, guidance, and 
oversight of USAID's water, sanitation, and hygiene programs 
authorized by this Act and the Water for the Poor Act; lead the 
implementation and revision of USAID's portion of the Global 
Water Strategy required by this Act; seek to expand USAID's 
WASH capacity; coordinate with the Department of State and 
Agency staff in each High Priority Country; and develop 
appropriate benchmarks, measureable goals, performance metrics, 
and monitoring and evaluation plans for Agency projects and 
programs. Section 4 also codifies and refines the existing 
position of Special Advisor for Water Resources at the 
Department of State who shall provide direction, guidance, and 
oversight of the Department of State projects and programs 
authorized by this Act and the Water for the Poor Act; lead the 
implementation and revision, not less than every 5 years, of 
the Department of State's portion of the Global Water Strategy 
required by this Act; prioritize and coordinate the 
Department's international engagement on global fresh water 
resources and policies; coordinate with USAID and State staff 
in each High Priority Country to ensure that U.S. 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 represent the views of the U.S. 
Government in key international fora, including key diplomatic, 
development-related, and scientific organizations related to 
freshwater issues.

Section 5

    Section 5 requires that to ensure that water, sanitation, 
and hygiene programs are targeted to reach the neediest 
populations, achieve maximum impact, and continue to deliver 
lasting and equitable benefits after completion, USAID shall 
prioritize in which countries they work based on eleven 
prioritization criteria in this Act. Section 5 also requires 
USAID to prioritize, monitor, and evaluate projects and 
programs against the health-based components of prioritization 
criteria, as well as other metrics such as improvements in 
health and educational opportunities for women and children, 
increased access to clean water and sanitation, improved 
indigenous capacity to independently carry out future projects 
and programs in this sector, financial sustainability, 
empowerment of local communities or institutions, effective 
maintenance, and others. Section 5 also states that the USAID 
Administrator is authorized, with consultation and notification 
to Congress, to use current and improved data to measure the 
prioritization criteria. Section 5 also mandates that not later 
than October 1, 2015, the President shall annually designate, 
based on the prioritization criteria, not less than ten High 
Priority Countries that will be the primary recipients of U.S. 
government development assistance and focus. Section 5 also 
requires USAID to notify Congress within 15 days prior to the 
obligation of any funds for water, sanitation, or hygiene 
projects or programs in countries that are not ranked in the 
top 50 countries of the WASH Needs Index, a ranking of 
countries made pursuant to the health-based prioritization in 
the Act. The purpose of the Congressional Notification is to 
ensure added transparency and consideration for how and where 
USAID spends water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance.

Section 6

    Section 6 requires the President, acting through the 
Secretary of State and USAID Administrator, to develop a Global 
Water Strategy not later than October 2017, and update it every 
5 years thereafter. The Global Water Strategy shall include a 
detailed description of how the United States intends to 
increase access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in high 
priority countries; improve management of water resources and 
watersheds in such countries; and work to prevent and resolve, 
to the greatest degree possible, both intra- and trans-boundary 
conflicts over water resources in such countries. The Global 
Water Strategy shall also include an agency-specific plan from 
both USAID and the Department of State.
    Section 6 further mandates that as soon as practicable, but 
not later than 2018, the USAID shall update and revise their 
existing Water and Development Strategy to reflect the 
requirements of this Act, including how the Agency will carry 
out the duties and responsibilities assigned to the Global 
Water Coordinator, increase access to safe water, sanitation, 
and hygiene in high priority countries, and ensure that 
projects and programs are designed to achieve maximum impact 
and long-term sustainability.
    Section 6 also mandates that, not later than 180 days after 
the enactment of this Act, the Department of State shall 
develop their agency-specific plan, as part of the Global Water 
Strategy, that describes specifically how the Department will 
carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to the 
Special Coordinator for Water Resources; ensure that activities 
improve management of water resources and watersheds in high 
priority countries; prevent and resolve, to the greatest degree 
possible, both intra- and trans-boundary conflicts over water 
resources; and a description from other relevant federal 
departments and agencies of their contributions to implementing 
the Global Water Strategy.
    Section 6 also states that as part of the Global Water 
Strategy, USAID shall:

   develop a plan for each High Priority Country that 
        considers cost, is evidence-based and results-oriented, 
        and seeks to achieve the purposes of this Act;

   specifically describe the target percentage of funding for 
        each year covered by such strategy to be directed 
        toward projects aimed at providing first-time access to 
        safe water and sanitation;

   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 in accordance with this Act; 
        and

   ensure that the Global Water Strategy is developed in 
        consultation with the heads of other appropriate 
        Federal departments and agencies and that it 
        incorporates best practices from the international 
        development community.

                            V. Cost Estimate

    In accordance with rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee notes that the cost 
estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office was not 
available for inclusion in this report. The estimate will be 
printed in either a supplemental report or the Congressional 
Record when it is available.

                  VI. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact

    In compliance with rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the 
Senate, the Committee finds that no significant regulatory 
impact will result from the enactment of S. 2946.

                      VII. Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill, 
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be 
omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in 
italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 
roman).

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



                                 PART I


Chapter 1--Policy; Development Assistance Authorizations

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



[SEC. 135. ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE SAFE WATER AND SANITATION.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC 136. ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE SAFE WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE.

    (a) Purposes.--The purposes of assistance authorized by 
this section are--
          (1) to promote good health, economic development, 
        poverty reduction, women's empowerment, conflict 
        prevention, and environmental sustainability by 
        providing assistance to expand access to safe water and 
        sanitation, promoting integrated water resource 
        management, and improving hygiene for people around the 
        world;
          (2) to seek to reduce by one-half from the baseline 
        year 1990 the proportion of people who are unable to 
        reach or afford safe drinking water and the proportion 
        of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015;
          (3) to focus water and sanitation assistance toward 
        the countries, locales, and people with the greatest 
        need;
          (4) to promote affordability and equity in the 
        provision of access to safe water and sanitation for 
        the very poor, women, and other vulnerable populations;
          (5) to improve water efficiency through water demand 
        management and reduction of unaccounted-for water;
          (6) to promote long-term sustainability in the 
        affordable and equitable provision of access to safe 
        water and sanitation through the creation of innovative 
        financing mechanisms such as national revolving funds, 
        and by strengthening the capacity of recipient 
        governments and communities to formulate and implement 
        policies that expand access to safe water and 
        sanitation in a sustainable fashion, including 
        integrated planning;
          (7) to secure the greatest amount of resources 
        possible, encourage private investment in water and 
        sanitation infrastructure and services, particularly in 
        lower middle-income countries, without creating 
        unsustainable debt for low-income countries or 
        unaffordable water and sanitation costs for the very 
        poor; and
          (8) to promote the capacity of recipient governments 
        to provide affordable, equitable, and sustainable 
        access to safe water and sanitation.
    (b) Authorization.--To carry out the purposes of subsection 
(a), the President is authorized to furnish assistance for 
programs in developing countries to provide affordable and 
equitable access to safe water [and sanitation], sanitation, 
and hygiene.
    (c) Activities Supported.--Assistance provided under 
subsection (b) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be 
used to--
          (1) expand affordable and equitable access to safe 
        water and sanitation for underserved populations;
          (2) support the design, construction, maintenance, 
        upkeep, repair, and operation of water delivery and 
        sanitation systems;
          (3) improve the safety and reliability of water 
        supplies, including environmental management; and
          (4) improve the capacity of recipient governments and 
        local communities, including capacity-building programs 
        for improved water resource management.
    (d) Local Currency.--The President may use payments made in 
local currencies under an agreement made under title I of the 
Food for Peace Act 177 (7 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to provide 
assistance under this section.
    (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.
    (f) Priorities and Criteria for Maximum Impact and Long-
Term Sustainability.--The Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development shall ensure that the 
Agency for International Development's projects and programs 
authorized under this section are designed to achieve maximum 
impact and long-term sustainability by--
          (1) prioritizing countries on the basis of the 
        following clearly defined criteria and indicators, to 
        the extent sufficient data are available--
                  (A) the proportion of the population using an 
                unimproved drinking water source;
                  (B) the total population using an unimproved 
                drinking water source;
                  (C) the proportion of the population without 
                piped water access;
                  (D) the proportion of the population using 
                shared or other unimproved sanitation 
                facilities;
                  (E) the total population using shared or 
                other unimproved sanitation facilities;
                  (F) the proportion of the population 
                practicing open defecation;
                  (G) the total number of children younger than 
                5 years of age who died from diarrheal disease;
                  (H) the proportion of all deaths of children 
                younger than 5 years of age resulting from 
                diarrheal disease;
                  (I) the national government's capacity, 
                capability, and commitment to work with the 
                United States to improve access to safe water, 
                sanitation, and hygiene, including--
                          (i) the government's capacity and 
                        commitment to developing the indigenous 
                        capacity to provide safe water and 
                        sanitation without the assistance of 
                        outside donors; and
                          (ii) the degree to which such 
                        government--
                                  (I) identifies such efforts 
                                as a priority; and
                                  (II) allocates resources to 
                                such efforts;
                  (J) the availability of opportunities to 
                leverage existing public, private, or other 
                donor investments in the water, sanitation, and 
                hygiene sectors, including investments in the 
                management of water resources; and
                  (K) the likelihood of making significant 
                improvements on a per capita basis on the 
                health and educational opportunities available 
                to women as a result of increased access to 
                safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, including 
                access to appropriate facilities at primary and 
                secondary educational institutions seeking to 
                ensure that communities benefitting from such 
                projects and activities develop the indigenous 
                capacity to provide safe water and sanitation 
                without the assistance of outside donors;
          (2) prioritizing and measuring, including through 
        rigorous monitoring and evaluating mechanisms, the 
        extent to which such project or program--
                  (A) furthers significant improvements in--
                          (i) the criteria set forth in 
                        subparagraphs (A) through (H) of 
                        paragraph (1);
                          (ii) the health and educational 
                        opportunities available to women as a 
                        result of increased access to safe 
                        water, sanitation, and hygiene, 
                        including access to appropriate 
                        facilities at primary and secondary 
                        educational institutions; and
                          (iii) the indigenous capacity of the 
                        host nation or community to provide 
                        safe water and sanitation without the 
                        assistance of outside donors;
                  (B) is designed, as part of the provision of 
                safe water and sanitation to the local 
                community--
                          (i) to be financially independent 
                        over the long term, focusing on local 
                        ownership and sustainability;
                          (ii) to be undertaken in conjunction 
                        with relevant public institutions or 
                        private enterprises;
                          (iii) to identify and empower local 
                        individuals or institutions to be 
                        responsible for the effective 
                        management and maintenance of such 
                        project or program; and
                          (iv) to provide safe water or 
                        expertise or capacity building to those 
                        identified parties or institutions for 
                        the purposes of developing a plan and 
                        clear responsibilities for the 
                        effective management and maintenance of 
                        such project or program;
                  (C) leverages existing public, private, or 
                other donor investments in the water, 
                sanitation, and hygiene sectors, including 
                investments in the management of water 
                resources;
                  (D) avoids duplication of efforts with other 
                United States Government agencies or 
                departments or those of other nations or 
                nongovernmental organizations;
                  (E) coordinates such efforts with the efforts 
                of other United States Government agencies or 
                departments or those of other nations or 
                nongovernmental organizations directed at 
                assisting refugees and other displaced 
                individuals; and
                  (F) involves consultation with appropriate 
                stakeholders, including communities directly 
                affected by the lack of access to clean water, 
                sanitation or hygiene, and other appropriate 
                nongovernmental organizations;
          (3) seeking to further the ``USAID Water and 
        Development Strategy, 2013-2018'' through 2018; and
          (4) seeking to further the strategy required under 
        subsection (j) after 2018.
    (g) Use of Improved Data Collection and Review of New 
Standardized Indicators.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator of the United 
        States Agency for International Development is 
        authorized to use improved data collection--
                  (A) to meet the health-based prioritization 
                criteria established pursuant to subsection 
                (f)(1); and
                  (B) to review new standardized indicators in 
                evaluating progress towards meeting such 
                criteria.
          (2) Consultation and notice.--The Administrator 
        shall--
                  (A) regularly consult with the appropriate 
                congressional committees; and
                  (B) notify such committees not later 30 days 
                before using improved data collection and 
                review of new standardized indicators under 
                paragraph (1) for the purposes of carrying out 
                this section.
    (h) Designation of High Priority Countries.--
          (1) Initial designation.--Not later than October 1, 
        2015, the President shall--
                  (A) designate, on the basis of the criteria 
                set forth in subsection (f)(1) and in 
                furtherance of the ``USAID Water and 
                Development Strategy, 2013-2018'', not fewer 
                than 10 countries as high priority countries to 
                be the primary recipients of United States 
                Government assistance authorized under this 
                section during fiscal year 2016; and
                  (B) notify the appropriate congressional 
                committees of such designations.
          (2) Annual designations.--
                  (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the President shall annually 
                make new designations pursuant to the criteria 
                set forth in paragraph (1).
                  (B) Designations after fiscal year 2018.--
                Beginning with fiscal year 2019, designations 
                under paragraph (1) shall be made--
                          (i) based upon the criteria set forth 
                        in subsection (f)(1); and
                          (ii) in furtherance of the strategy 
                        required under subsection (j).
    (i) Targeting of Projects and Programs to Areas of Greatest 
Need.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days before the 
        obligation of any funds for water, sanitation, or 
        hygiene projects or programs pursuant to this section 
        in countries that are not ranked in the top 50 
        countries based upon the WASH Needs Index, the 
        Administrator of the United States Agency for 
        International Development shall notify the appropriate 
        congressional committees of the planned obligation of 
        such funds.
          (2) Defined term.--In this subsection and in 
        subsection (j), the term ``WASH Needs Index'' means the 
        needs index for water, sanitation, or hygiene projects 
        or programs authorized under this section that has been 
        developed using the criteria and indicators described 
        in subparagraphs (A) through (H) of subsection (f)(1).
    (j) Global Water Strategy.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than October 1, 2017, and 
        every 5 years thereafter, the President, acting through 
        the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United 
        States Agency for International Development, and the 
        heads of other Federal departments and agencies, as 
        appropriate, shall submit a single government-wide 
        Global Water Strategy to the appropriate congressional 
        committees that provides a detailed description of how 
        the United States intends--
                  (A) to increase access to safe water, 
                sanitation, and hygiene in high priority 
                countries designated pursuant to subsection 
                (h), including a summary of the WASH Needs 
                Index and the specific weighting of data and 
                other assumptions used to develop and rank 
                countries on the WASH Needs Index;
                  (B) to improve the management of water 
                resources and watersheds in such countries; and
                  (C) to work to prevent and resolve, to the 
                greatest degree possible, both intra- and 
                trans-boundary conflicts over water resources 
                in such countries.
          (2) Agency-specific plans.--The Global Water Strategy 
        shall include an agency-specific plan--
                  (A) from the United States Agency for 
                International Development that describes 
                specifically how the Agency for International 
                Development will--
                          (i) carry out the duties and 
                        responsibilities assigned to the Global 
                        Water Coordinator under subsection 
                        (e)(1);
                          (ii) ensure that the Agency for 
                        International Development's projects 
                        and programs authorized under this 
                        section are designed to achieve maximum 
                        impact and long-term sustainability, 
                        including by implementing the 
                        requirements described in subsection 
                        (f); and
                          (iii) increase access to safe water, 
                        sanitation, and hygiene in high 
                        priority countries designated pursuant 
                        to subsection (h);
                  (B) from the Department of State that 
                describes specifically how the Department of 
                State will--
                          (i) carry out the duties and 
                        responsibilities assigned to the 
                        Special Coordinator for Water Resources 
                        under subsection (e)(2); and
                          (ii) ensure that the Department's 
                        activities authorized under this 
                        section are designed--
                                  (I) to improve management of 
                                water resources and watersheds 
                                in countries designated 
                                pursuant to subsection (h); and
                                  (II) to prevent and resolve, 
                                to the greatest degree 
                                possible, both intra- and 
                                trans-boundary conflicts over 
                                water resources in such 
                                countries; and
                  (C) from other Federal departments and 
                agencies, as appropriate, that describes the 
                contributions of the departments and agencies 
                to implementing the Global Water Strategy.
          (3) Individualized plans for high priority 
        countries.--For each high priority country designated 
        pursuant to subsection (h), the Administrator of the 
        United States Agency for International Development 
        shall--
                  (A) develop a costed, evidence-based, and 
                results-oriented plan that--
                          (i) seeks to achieve the purposes of 
                        this section; and
                          (ii) meets the requirements under 
                        subsection (f); and
                  (B) include such plan in an appendix to the 
                Global Water Strategy required under paragraph 
                (1).
          (4) First time access reporting requirement.--The 
        Global Water Strategy shall specifically describe the 
        target percentage of funding for each fiscal year 
        covered by such strategy to be directed toward projects 
        aimed at providing first-time access to safe water and 
        sanitation.
          (5) Performance indicators.--The Global Water 
        Strategy shall include specific and measurable goals, 
        benchmarks, performance metrics, timetables, and 
        monitoring and evaluation plans required to be 
        developed by the Administrator of the United States 
        Agency for International Development pursuant to 
        subsection (e)(1)(B)(v).
          (6) Consultation and best practices.--The Global 
        Water Strategy shall--
                  (A) be developed in consultation with the 
                heads of other appropriate Federal departments 
                and agencies; and
                  (B) incorporate best practices from the 
                international development community.
    (k) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
congressional committees'' means--
          (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
          (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
          (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives; and
          (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives.