Washington, DC (January 28, 2014) – On January 17, President Obama signed into law a sweeping, bipartisan $1.1 trillion spending bill that increases funding for safe drinking water and sanitation programs in developing countries by over 20 percent. The Omnibus Appropriations bill, which includes the State and Foreign Operations budget for the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provides an increase of $50 million for safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects, potentially providing water and sanitation to over three million people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America over the course of the coming fiscal year.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Representative Kay Granger (R-TX), and Representative Harold Rogers (R-KY) played key roles in this increase.
Senator Richard Durbin, a long-time ally of this important cause, said, "Water, sanitation, and hygiene are key to development, and I am grateful to my colleagues for their support of this important work. These funds will be well-spent in countries and communities of greatest need around the world, saving and improving millions of lives."
Patti Simon, wife of the late Senator Paul Simon, added, "This is very welcome news at a time when so many people across the globe continue to suffer from a lack of safe drinking water and sanitation, especially girls and women in Africa. My late husband Paul [Simon] would be proud of his Democratic and Republican colleagues in both chambers today."
The total of $365 million allocated in FY14 for water, sanitation, and hygiene programs reaffirms Congress’ strong bipartisan commitment to proven U.S. government programs and supports current efforts underway to pass the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013 (HR 2901). The Act would build upon the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, which established access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a priority of America’s foreign policy.
John Oldfield, CEO of WASH Advocates, noted, "Politics stops at water, and this is clearly one issue on which both Republicans and Democrats can agree. This additional $50 million could get safe drinking water and a toilet to 500,000 more people in developing countries. I am particularly pleased that $135 million of the $365 million total has been directed to sub-Saharan Africa. We now turn to USAID to ensure that these funds are invested in sustainable, results-focused programs across the globe."
The Water for the Poor Act has made a tangible difference in the world since 2005. As a result of USAID investments, 3.8 million people gained improved access to drinking water and 1.9 million improved access to sanitation in FY 2011 alone.
WASH is among the most efficient investments we can make in reducing poverty around the world: every $1 invested in safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene brings an estimated $4 return in reduced health care costs and increased economic productivity.