September 23, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC – When 1 billion people in the world are getting sick or dying from diseases caused by drinking contaminated water, we cannot afford to let pass an opportunity to seriously increase access to clean water for people living in developing countries.

"Water is a public trust, a global public good. Because it is critical for life and human dignity, access to water needs to be fully implemented as a fundamental human right. Governments ultimately have a duty to ensure all have affordable, equitable access to water," says John L. McCullough, executive director and CEO of humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS).

That's why CWS is calling citizens to action as part of the agency's effort to urge our representatives in Congress to bring a vote to the floor on the just-approved Senate version of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act.

The bill provides for the United States to extend first-time access to safe water and sanitation, on a sustainable basis, to 100 million people in countries where it is most needed, by the year 2015.

Passed by unanimous consent in the Senate on Sept. 20, the bill now has landed on the desks of House leaders. Church World Service believes the measure should be quickly brought to the floor of the House for a vote and that lawmakers should vote to approve it.

The difference between a yes and a no vote can be counted in the number of lives saved from disease and death.

Some 4,500 children a day who die from diarrheal dehydration caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation are included among the one billion people in developing countries who do not have access to even the minimum amount of safe drinking needed for basic good health, and among the 2.4 billion people with no access to sanitation.

Water, sanitation and hygiene improve the quality of life and health, advance education, reduce poverty and malnutrition, drive economic growth and contribute to gender equality and dignity. Clean water is key, not just to saving lives, but to every other aspect of development, from children's education to economic growth and environmental sustainability.

The Millennium Development Goals, agreed upon in September 2000 by nearly 200 heads of state, include reducing by half the number of people worldwide without clean water and adequate sanitation by the year 2015. Passage of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act would significantly enhance the capacity and commitment of the United States to help reach that goal.

McCullough says, "The United States has the capacity to fully commit itself and its resources to help ensure safe, affordable water for all members of the human family."

If the House now passes the Senate-passed version of the bill, it will go to the President for signing and become law.

Church World Service urges House leaders to schedule a vote on the Water for the World Act. And, we encourage citizens to add their voices to this effort to help bring clean water to people struggling to overcome poverty by contacting their representatives in the House and asking them to back the bill.

Church World Service