CWS to Lawmakers: Say 'yes' to clean water

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

> CWS to Lawmakers: Say 'yes' to clean water

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept 23, 2010--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.

> Media Contacts

Lesley Crosson, (212) 870-2676, media@churchworldservice.org

Jan Dragin - 24/7 - (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net

> Church World Service

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