WaterAid Applauds Congressional Progress Toward Final Passage of the Water for the World Act

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Nov 20, 2014) - WaterAid commends the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs today for heeding the call of millions of Americans and passing the Water for the World Act of 2013 (HR 2901), and celebrates Senate introduction of a companion bill. This key piece of legislation will put the world's most marginalized communities front and center in efforts to bolster access to safe water, toilets and hygiene education that saves and improves lives.

WaterAid is calling on the full Congress to urgently pass the Water for the World Act in order to ensure it is signed into law before the end of this Session of Congress. The bill is backed by a bipartisan coalition of more than 100 co-sponsors in the House, a bipartisan group of senior Senators, and more than 75 non-governmental and faith-based organizations. It has been hailed for the real-world impact that it will have without spending any new taxpayer dollars.

"In a year when political consensus has been hard to come by, the Water for the World Act proves that safe water is something we can all agree on," says WaterAid America CEO, Sarina Prabasi. "WaterAid wholeheartedly applauds the House Foreign Affairs Committee and our Senate champions, along with the bill's many enthusiastic co-sponsors, for standing up for what's right by supporting water, toilets and hygiene programs for the poorest of the poor."

Led by Congressmen Poe (R-TX) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) in the House, and Senators Corker (R-TN) and Durbin (D-IL) in the Senate, the Water for the World Act is a critical tool for making sure that US foreign aid dollars are used effectively and efficiently. In addition to helping people living in the world's poorest communities gain access to safe water, toilets and hygiene education, the bill bolsters measures proven to improve child survival, global health, food security, nutrition and gender equality.

"WaterAid is counting on supporters of the bill to help move the Water for the World Act to final passage in both the House and the Senate," commented WaterAid Policy and Advocacy Director, Lisa Schechtman. "Water for the World is something we can all agree on. With strong bipartisan champions in both the House and the Senate, Water for the World not only has the support to land on the President's desk, but to transform millions of lives across the developing world."

The US public has sent tens of thousands of letters supporting the Water for the World Act, and consistently ranks safe water and sanitation as its top choice of how the US Agency for International Development should invest its limited global health dollars.

Worldwide, the water and sanitation crisis is the second biggest killed of children under the age of five, and as many as 1,400 children die every day from diseases caused by unsafe water, poor sanitation and the lack of good hygiene. The Water for the World Act is a critical next step toward helping the 2.5 billion people around the world who do not have access to a toilet, and the 748 million people who lack access to safe drinking water.

About WaterAid

WaterAid is the world's largest international non-profit organization solely dedicated to helping the world's poorest people gain access to safe water, toilets and hygiene education. WaterAid works in 26 countries across Africa, Asia, Central America and the Pacific region. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 21 million people with safe water and, since 2004, 18 million people with toilets and sanitation.

For more information, visit www.wateraid.org/us, follow @WaterAidAmerica on Twitter, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WaterAidAmerica and Instagram at http://instagram.com/wateraidamerica.

• Around 1,400 children die every day from diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation.
• 748 million people in the world live without safe water.
• 2.5 billion people live without sanitation; this is 39% of the world's population.
• For every $1 invested in water and sanitation, an average of $4 is returned in increased productivity.
• Just $25 can enable one person to access a lasting supply of safe water.

Note to editors

• Those interested in asking their representative to support the bill may do so at: http://goo.gl/5JicVS