Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act Congressional Report June 2008

In response to the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act and other statutory requirements, the United States has emphasized access to drinking water and sanitation in its foreign assistance programs. Support for drinking water supply, sanitation, and hygiene will increase in FY 2008 and will expand to cover more countries—many among the most in need. The Act has also helped focus U.S. efforts on water and sanitation and provides an important opportunity to strengthen the U.S. response to the global water challenge.

This is the third report to Congress since the passage of the WfP Act. It builds upon the two previous reports (available at www.state.gov/g/oes/water). Chapter One provides an overview of the global water challenge and the U.S. response within the context of U.S. foreign assistance and the water sector as a whole, and introduces the joint USAID-Department of State Strategic Framework on Water (Annex A). Chapter Two highlights key results and reports on U.S. assistance in the water sector for the 2007 fiscal year (FY). Finally, Chapter Three describes guidelines developed to comply with the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act as well as regional strategies for addressing water issues in FY 2008.