Washington, D.C. | June 28, 2012
While the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in June unanimously approved their version of the Sen. Paul Simon Water for the World Act, support for the House’s version, H.R. 3658, has been building, with an increase of 17 co-sponsors in June alone.
New co-sponsors include several prominent Republicans, but MWA is targeting other House Republicans for support, especially those on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which we hope will schedule a prompt markup of the bill.
H.R. 3658 was drafted by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) a longtime champion for WASH, and Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), a strong voice on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The House version of Water for the World reflects what the sector has learned in the seven years of implementation of the original Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005. As outlined in a side-by-side comparison with the Senate version, S. 641, the House bill does not set a population target, but it makes a number of key improvements in the way USAID reports on and directs WASH programs.
Very importantly, we see this bill as not proposing any new costs. It does not call for the creation of new offices or the hiring of additional personnel at USAID; rather, it focuses on how programs can be more effectively coordinated and how USAID can partner more effectively with NGOs to bring to scale sustainable WASH programs.
Ultimately, our goal is to help empower countries to move toward full coverage with safe and reliable water and sanitation systems, with less and less need for foreign assistance.
Go to http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3658.IH: to see the text of entire bill, read a summary, or check on current cosponsors.
MWA drafted and was joined by 51 other organizations in a coalition letter urging support for HR 3658 and S. 641. Here is the letter supporting the House bill: Organizational Sign-On Letter for HR 3658 February 2012
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Current House Cosponsors of H.R. 3658 (with date of cosponsorship)
Rep Bass, Karen [CA-33] – 12/14/2011
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] – 12/14/2011
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] – 3/21/2012
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] – 3/21/2012
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] – 12/14/2011
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] – 4/16/2012
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] – 12/14/2011
Rep Clarke, Hansen [MI-13] – 6/26/2012
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] – 1/24/2012
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] – 12/14/2011
Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] – 6/26/2012
Rep Dold, Robert J. [IL-10] – 4/17/2012
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] – 3/21/2012
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] – 1/31/2012
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] – 4/16/2012
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] – 3/21/2012
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] – 3/21/2012
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] – 6/21/2012
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] – 3/27/2012
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] – 3/27/2012
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] – 1/31/2012
Rep Keating, William R. [MA-10] – 3/21/2012
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] – 6/21/2012
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] – 12/14/2011
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] – 3/21/2012
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] – 6/21/2012
Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] – 12/14/2011
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] – 3/21/2012
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] – 12/16/2011
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] – 12/14/2011
Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] – 4/16/2012
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] – 4/16/2012
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] – 3/21/2012
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] – 3/21/2012
Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] – 6/27/2012
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] – 12/14/2011
Rep Petri, Thomas E. [WI-6] – 6/26/2012
Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] – 3/21/2012
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] – 12/14/2011
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] – 3/21/2012
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] – 6/26/2012
Rep Ribble, Reid J. [WI-8] – 6/26/2012
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] – 6/26/2012
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] – 6/21/2012
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] – 3/27/2012
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] – 5/18/2012
Rep Schilling, Robert T. [IL-17] – 6/21/2012
Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] – 12/16/2011
Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] – 6/26/2012
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] – 12/14/2011
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] – 3/27/2012
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] – 12/14/2011
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] – 6/26/2012
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] – 4/17/2012
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] – 6/26/2012
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] – 3/27/2012
Rep Walsh, Joe [IL-8] – 6/27/2012
Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] – 6/21/2012
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] – 3/21/2012