[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 122, 110th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
[NOTE: Aug. 1, 2008 -  [H.Con.Res.318]   INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF
SANITATION--SUPPORT

Whereas, in 2000, the United States, along with other world leaders, at
the 55th United Nations General Assembly, committed to achieving the
Millennium Development Goals which provide a

[[Page 5199]]
122 STAT. 5199

framework for countries and international organizations to combat
such global social ills as poverty, hunger, and disease;

Whereas one target of the Millennium Development Goals is to halve by
2015 the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water
and basic sanitation, the only target to be codified into United
States law in the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-121);

Whereas the lack of access to safe water and sanitation is one of the
most pressing environmental public health issues in the world;

Whereas over 1,000,000,000 people live without potable water and an
estimated 2,600,000,000 people do not have access to basic
sanitation facilities, which includes 980,000,000 children;

Whereas every 20 seconds a child dies as a direct result of a lack of
access to basic sanitation facilities;

Whereas only 36 percent of sub-Saharan Africa and 37 percent of South
Asia have access to safe drinking water and sanitation, the lowest
rates in the world;

Whereas at any one time almost half of the developing world's people are
suffering from diseases associated with lack of water, sanitation,
and hygiene;

Whereas improved sanitation decreases the incidences of debilitating and
deadly maladies such as cholera, intestinal worms, diarrhea,
pneumonia, dysentery, and skin infections;

Whereas sanitation is the foundation of health, dignity, and
development;

Whereas increased sanitation is fundamental for reaching all of the
Millennium Development Goals;

Whereas access to basic sanitation helps economic and social development
in countries where poor sanitation is a major cause of lost work and
school days because of illness;

Whereas sanitation in schools enables children, particularly girls
reaching puberty, to remain in the educational system;

Whereas according to the World Health Organization, every dollar spent
on proper sanitation by governments generates an average of $7 in
economic benefit;

Whereas improved disposal of human waste protects the quality of water
sources used for drinking, preparation of food, agriculture, and
bathing;

Whereas, in 2006, the United Nations, at the 61st Session of the General
Assembly, declared 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation to
recognize the progress made in achieving the global sanitation
target detailed in the Millennium Development Goals, as well as to
call upon all Member States, United Nations agencies, regional and
international organizations, civil society organizations, and other
relevant stakeholders to renew their commitment to attaining that
target;

Whereas the official launching of the International Year of Sanitation
at the United Nations was on November 21, 2007; and

Whereas the thrust of the International Year of Sanitation has three
parts, including--

[[Page 5200]]
122 STAT. 5200

(1) raising awareness of the importance of sanitation and its
impact on reaching other Millennium Development Goals;
(2) encouraging governments and their partners to promote and
implement policies and actions for meeting the sanitation target;
and
(3) mobilizing communities, particularly women's groups, towards
changing sanitation and hygiene practices through sanitation health
education campaigns: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the Congress--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of the International Year
of Sanitation;
(2) recognizes the importance of sanitation on public
health, poverty reduction, economic and social development, and
the environment; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to observe
the International Year of Sanitation with appropriate
recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate
the importance of sanitation and hygiene in achieving the
Millennium Development Goals, and to support developing
countries in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development
Goal target on basic sanitation among populations at greatest
need.

Agreed to August 1, 2008.