U.S. Congressional Resolution on the Right to Water

More than 1.4 billion of the world's inhabitants lack adequate access to safe drinking water, and 2.5 billion have no proper sanitation. Thousands, mostly children, die each day from preventable waterborne diseases. Because of increasing pollution and a rate of global water consumption that doubles every 20 years, 48 nations will face severe water shortages by 2025, according to the World Health Organization.

The Water for the World Resolution affirms that water is a global public good and should not be treated as a private commodity. It recognizes that government policies should ensure that all individuals have equitable access to water to meet basic human needs and that no one is cut off from water due to economic constraints. It states that U.S. Executive Directors of the IMF, World Bank and other international financial institutions should not approve loans requiring privatization when those policies result in reduced access to water and increased water rates; nor should bilateral or multilateral trade agreements include negotiations related to the provision of water for human use. It further affirms that we have a responsibility to solve the global water crisis and calls on Congress to provide funding for the U.S. Water for the Poor Act of 2005.

In 2005 Rep. Schakowsky introduced a similar Congressional resolution. It received strong support from U.S. organizations and had 23 Congressional co-sponsors.

Read the full text of the Congressional 'Water for the World' resolution here.