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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 658 Introduced in House (IH)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 658

          Supporting the goals and ideals of World Water Day.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 31, 2006

  Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas (for herself and Mr. Blumenauer) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                       on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
          Supporting the goals and ideals of World Water Day.

Whereas the global celebration of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out 
        of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 
        Rio de Janeiro;
Whereas the United States General Assembly, via resolution, designated March 22 
        of each year as World Water Day;
Whereas although water resources are renewable, differences in availability of 
        water resources exist due to variations in seasonal and annual 
        precipitation in different parts of the world;
Whereas although water is the most widely occurring substance on earth, only 
        2.53 percent of all water is freshwater and the remainder is salt water;
Whereas freshwater resources are further reduced by various forms of industrial, 
        chemical, human, and agricultural pollution;
Whereas the drainage of wetlands for agriculture and the dissipation of water 
        sources by land clearance lead to further exacerbation of water 
        scarcity;
Whereas, according to the United Nations, by the middle of this century, at 
        worst, seven billion people in 60 countries will be water-scarce;
Whereas the poor are the most affected by water scarcity, with 50 percent of the 
        populations of developing countries exposed to polluted water sources;
Whereas water-related diseases are among the most common causes of illness and 
        death, afflicting primarily the poor in developing countries;
Whereas the estimated mortality rate due to diseases transmitted by water and 
        sanitation is five million people per year;
Whereas initiatives that promote access to safe drinking water and sanitation 
        that prevents contaminants from infiltrating fresh drinking water 
        supplies are vital tools in raising the awareness of the importance of 
        freshwater to the quality of life; and
Whereas freshwater is vital to the development, sustainability, and progression 
        of all humanity: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of World Water Day;
            (2) recognizes the importance of conserving and managing 
        water resources for sustainable development, including 
        environmental integrity and the eradication of poverty and 
        hunger, and human health and overall quality of life in the 
        United States and across the globe; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        World Water Day with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, 
        activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of water 
        and water conservation to humanity.
                                 <all>
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