• Extra funding vital to help poor nations, advance U.S. security interests
WASHINGTON, DC, July 9, 2009 -- Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore) today secured an extra $25 million that will be used to provide the world's poorest people with access to clean water and sanitation, bringing the total level of this funding for Fiscal Year 2010 to $335 million.
Blumenauer is the author of the "Water for the Poor Act," which was signed into law in 2005. He has since introduced the bipartisan "Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009," which would increase the US Government's ability to extend safe, affordable and sustainable clean water and sanitation to an additional 100 million of the world's poorest by 2015.
Following is a statement from Rep. Blumenauer and other clean water and development advocates:
"Access to safe, clean drinking water is a basic right too often denied to the world's poorest," said Rep. Blumenauer. "The additional funding we've secured today will help us meet our commitment to address the world's number one health problem: lack of access to clean water, which impacts more than one billion people. The resulting illness and death is entirely preventable, yet traps countries in poverty and diminishes our own development and security efforts. What we've done today will make an important difference in the lives of the poorest people in the most resource-stressed areas of the world."
David Douglas, President of Water Advocates, hailed the increase, saying, "We greatly appreciate Congressman Blumenauer's longtime leadership on this important issue, and his work to make the Water for the Poor Act even more effective at saving lives and reducing disease in the developing world."
###