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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 318 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.318
                                                Agreed to August 1, 2008

                       One Hundred Tenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,
            the third day of January, two thousand and eight

                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas, in 2000, the United States, along with other world leaders, at 
  the 55th United Nations General Assembly, committed to achieving the 
  Millennium Development Goals which provide a framework for countries 
  and international organizations to combat such global social ills as 
  poverty, hunger, and disease;

Whereas one target of the Millennium Development Goals is to halve by 
  2015 the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water 
  and basic sanitation, the only target to be codified into United 
  States law in the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 
  (Public Law 109-121);

Whereas the lack of access to safe water and sanitation is one of the 
  most pressing environmental public health issues in the world;

Whereas over 1,000,000,000 people live without potable water and an 
  estimated 2,600,000,000 people do not have access to basic sanitation 
  facilities, which includes 980,000,000 children;

Whereas every 20 seconds a child dies as a direct result of a lack of 
  access to basic sanitation facilities;

Whereas only 36 percent of sub-Saharan Africa and 37 percent of South 
  Asia have access to safe drinking water and sanitation, the lowest 
  rates in the world;

Whereas at any one time almost half of the developing world's people 
  are suffering from diseases associated with lack of water, 
  sanitation, and hygiene;

Whereas improved sanitation decreases the incidences of debilitating 
  and deadly maladies such as cholera, intestinal worms, diarrhea, 
  pneumonia, dysentery, and skin infections;

Whereas sanitation is the foundation of health, dignity, and 
  development;

Whereas increased sanitation is fundamental for reaching all of the 
  Millennium Development Goals;

Whereas access to basic sanitation helps economic and social 
  development in countries where poor sanitation is a major cause of 
  lost work and school days because of illness;

Whereas sanitation in schools enables children, particularly girls 
  reaching puberty, to remain in the educational system;

Whereas according to the World Health Organization, every dollar spent 
  on proper sanitation by governments generates an average of $7 in 
  economic benefit;

Whereas improved disposal of human waste protects the quality of water 
  sources used for drinking, preparation of food, agriculture, and 
  bathing;

Whereas, in 2006, the United Nations, at the 61st Session of the 
  General Assembly, declared 2008 as the International Year of 
  Sanitation to recognize the progress made in achieving the global 
  sanitation target detailed in the Millennium Development Goals, as 
  well as to call upon all Member States, United Nations agencies, 
  regional and international organizations, civil society 
  organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to renew their 
  commitment to attaining that target;

Whereas the official launching of the International Year of Sanitation 
  at the United Nations was on November 21, 2007; and

Whereas the thrust of the International Year of Sanitation has three 
  parts, including--

    (1) raising awareness of the importance of sanitation and its impact on 
reaching other Millennium Development Goals;

    (2) encouraging governments and their partners to promote and implement 
policies and actions for meeting the sanitation target; and

    (3) mobilizing communities, particularly women's groups, towards 
changing sanitation and hygiene practices through sanitation health 
education campaigns: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
        (1) supports the goals and ideals of the International Year of 
    Sanitation;
        (2) recognizes the importance of sanitation on public health, 
    poverty reduction, economic and social development, and the 
    environment; and
        (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe the 
    International Year of Sanitation with appropriate recognition, 
    ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance 
    of sanitation and hygiene in achieving the Millennium Development 
    Goals, and to support developing countries in their efforts to 
    achieve the Millennium Development Goal target on basic sanitation 
    among populations at greatest need.
Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.
```