H.R. 2901 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2901 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 1, 2013 Mr. Blumenauer (for himself, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Cole, Mr. Jones, Mr. Ribble, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Terry, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Schock, and Ms. Edwards) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To strengthen implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to implement, leverage, and monitor and evaluate programs to provide first-time or improved access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene to the world’s poorest on an equitable and sustainable basis, and for other purposes. 1. Short title and table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013. (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings. Sec. 3. Sense of Congress. Sec. 4. Purpose. Sec. 5. Improving coordination and oversight of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities. Sec. 6. Increasing sustainability of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities. Sec. 7. United States complimentary strategies to increase sustainable, affordable, and equitable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Sec. 8. Transparency and monitoring and evaluation. 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533)— (A) makes access to affordable, equitable, and sustainable clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for developing countries a specific policy objective of United States foreign assistance programs; (B) requires the United States Government to— (i) develop a strategy to elevate and further the United States foreign policy and foreign assistance objective to provide affordable and equitable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries; and (ii) improve the effectiveness and targeting of United States assistance programs undertaken in support of that strategy; (C) codifies Target 10 of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals; and (D) seeks to reduce by half between 1990 (the baseline year) and 2015— (i) the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water; and (ii) the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation. (2) For maximum effectiveness of assistance, safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene must be coordinated with and reflected in programs and strategies for food security, global health, environment, education, gender equality, and conflict prevention and mitigation. (3) On February 2, 2012, the United States national intelligence community released a National Intelligence Estimate on Global Water Security, which found that— (A) over the next decade, countries of strategic importance to the United States will experience water shortages, poor water quality, or floods, that will risk instability or state failure and increase regional tensions; (B) water problems may pose a risk to global food markets and economic growth, and may harm the economic performance of important trading partners; (C) water stresses compound existing problems, such as poverty, social tension, and ill-health and without good management of water food supplies will be reduced and water borne diseases will increase; and (D) pressure will arise for a more engaged United States to make water a global priority and to support major development projects. (4) On August 1, 2008, Congress passed House Concurrent Resolution 318, which— (A) supports the goals and ideals of the International Year of Sanitation; and (B) recognizes the importance of sanitation on public health, poverty reduction, economic and social development, and the environment. (5) According to the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, commissioned by the United Nations, more than one-fifth of the world’s population relies on freshwater sources that are either polluted or excessively withdrawn. Healthy ecosystems provide multiple water-related services, such as flood control and water purification, upon which human security, health and well-being depend. Therefore, measures aiming to maintain or restore those services ensure the long-term sustainability of strategies to secure safe and reliable access to water and sanitation. (6) While progress is being made on safe water and sanitation efforts— (A) more than 783,000,000 people throughout the world lack access to safe drinking water; and (B) approximately 35 percent of the total global population does not have access to basic sanitation services. (7) A lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation has disproportionate, and too often deadly impacts on children: (A) Water and sanitation-related disease, despite being preventable, remains one of the most significant child health problems worldwide. Diarrhea is the most serious of these diseases, alone killing over 3,000 children each day, and is the second biggest cause of death in children in the post neonatal period, aged one month to 5 years. Ninety percent of all people that die from diarrheal disease are children under the age of 5. Eighty-eight percent of diarrheal disease is attributed to unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. (B) Even when bouts of diarrhea don’t kill, these episodes can physically and mentally stunt children, affecting them for the rest of their lives. (C) Having adequate and appropriate water supply and sanitation facilities in schools is a major factor influencing whether children, and especially adolescent girls, attend school. (D) Adequate sanitation facilities and practices contributes to reducing malnutrition in children, improves the quality of life and dignity of girls and women, protects the environment, and generates economic benefits for communities and nations. (8) The health and environmental consequences of unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation are significant, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the global burden of disease, and as further indicated by the following: (A) At any given time, half of the hospital beds in developing countries are occupied by patients suffering from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene. (B) More than 3,575,000 people die each year from water-related disease. (C) Chronic or acute diarrhea can lead to cognitive delays, with severe repercussions for economic development. (D) Lack of adequate sanitation contaminates rivers worldwide, as one of the most significant sources of water pollution. Every day, 2,000,000 tons of untreated sewage and industrial and agricultural waste are discharged into the world’s freshwaters. (9) Clean water and sanitation are among the most powerful drivers for human development. They extend opportunity, enhance dignity, and help create a virtuous cycle of improving health and rising wealth. (10) Diseases linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation, as well as the time and energy women often devote to collecting water, significantly reduce economic productivity in less developed countries and promote lifecycles of disadvantage. (11) Expanding access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, while protecting the natural infrastructures that store, deliver, and purify water for nature and people, are essential steps in reducing the global burden of disease, advancing sustainable economic and social development, protecting basic human rights, preventing violence against girls and women, and mitigating sources of conflict associated with water scarcity, mass migration, and water related disasters, both within and between countries. (12) Nearly 1,000,000,000 people across the globe still suffer from chronic hunger. Water scarcity and poor water management reduce agricultural productivity and add pressures on valuable fisheries, posing a major threat to food security and local livelihoods, and limits the ability of the world to provide the resources necessary for the doubling of food production that will be required to meet the demands of a projected population of 9,000,000,000 people by 2050. (13) 2.8 billion people in more than 48 countries are expected to face severe and chronic water shortages by 2025, with major impacts on energy and food security, development, livelihoods, human health, and natural infrastructure. (14) Agriculture consumes 70 percent of all freshwater withdrawn globally. Global increases in the efficiency and productivity of both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture will be needed to meet future food production requirements. (15) Approximately half the world’s population lives in cities, often in slums characterized by unsafe water, poor sanitation, lack of basic services, overcrowding, inferior construction and insecure tenure. (16) According to the United Nations, women make up 70 percent of the world’s poor. Yet, the time they spend collecting water prevents them from undertaking other activities, such as generating income or attending school. (17) A lack of access to safe water and improved sanitation close to home and at school can impact girls’ educational attainment and retention, limiting their ability to break the cycle of poverty. Research has found increases in girls’ school enrollment when clean water points were installed closer to home, and increases in girls’ school attendance when separate latrines for boys and girls were provided on site. Meeting Target 10 of the Millennium Development Goals for water and sanitation would provide an estimated 272,000,000 additional school days per year. (18) A lack of water points close to home or safe, private latrines can put women and girls in isolated situations, making them more vulnerable to sexual and physical violence. Violence against women and girls has consequences ranging from psychosocial trauma to heightened risk of HIV/AIDS. (19) Faith communities and nonprofit development and conservation organizations across the United States contribute significantly to the improvement of water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries. By applying their expertise, providing services, building the capacity of local organizations, establishing long-term partnerships with local communities, empowering marginalized groups, supporting sustainable water management and serving as a voice for the poor, faith-based and nonprofit organizations complement and leverage assistance provided by the United States Government. (20) United States businesses have developed key technologies, donated goods and services, partnered with private and public sector entities, and invested their capital to improve water and sanitation and freshwater sources in many developing countries. Corporate actors have also partnered with other stakeholders to implement sustainable water management and water use efficiency within their plants and throughout their supply chain. (21) Implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 must be significantly strengthened if the purposes of section 135 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2152h; relating to assistance to provide safe water and sanitation), as added by section 5(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, are to be met. (22) The monitoring and evaluation of the performance of United States foreign assistance programs and their contribution to policy, strategies, projects, program goals, and priorities undertaken by the Federal Government is essential to improving aid effectiveness. 3. Sense of Congress (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) In May 2013, the United States Agency for International Development released a Water and Development Strategy, whose goal is to save lives and advance development through improvements in water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs, and through sound management and use of water for food security.. (2) The Water and Development Strategy states that it supports the efforts of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 by advancing many activities consistent with the goals of the Act.. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the initial United States Agency for International Development’s Water and Development Strategy, released in May 2013— (A) is a significant accomplishment and improves the Agency’s capacity to provide sustainable and effective water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance; (B) is supportive of and should continue to reinforce the United States foreign policy and development objectives for clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; (C) should be refined and expanded by the United States Agency for International Development as often as necessary to ensure best practices are used and the purposes of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533) and this Act are met, should target the world’s poorest and those suffering from the lowest levels of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, and should be updated by the Agency not later than every 5 years, to more fully meet the requirements and spirit of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and section 135 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2152h), as added by section 5(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005; and (D) is not, on its own, the holistic United States water strategy required by the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, but instead addresses components of a comprehensive strategy for how the United States plans to support the United States foreign policy and development objectives and measure its success towards the objectives required by the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and this Act, and must be complimented by the development of a whole-of-government United States Government global water strategy aimed at creating an enabling environment through diplomatic channels for the Agency’s water, sanitation, and hygiene programming that will better allow the Agency to succeed in its mission; and (2) the Secretary of State, acting through the Special Advisor for Water Resources (established by 136(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961), as added by section 5(a)(2)(C) of this Act, and in collaboration and consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, should develop a Global Water Resources Strategy relating to United States foreign policy objectives for water, pursuant to section 6(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, as added by section 7 of this Act, that— (A) articulates a vision for the role played by the Department of State, including in its power as a convener, in addressing the foreign policy and national security issues identified in the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and this Act, the 2012 National Intelligence Estimate on Global Water Security, and other relevant whole-of-government assessments, strategies, and approaches; (B) is an ambitious United States foreign policy framework that advances the objectives of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and this Act to provide sustainable access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene to poor and marginalized people through improved United States diplomatic efforts to build political will and coordination across the Federal Government to better enable United States Government agencies and partners to meet their international development objectives; (C) is complementary to, supportive of, and does not inhibit, the Water and Development Strategy, and establishes clear roles and responsibilities insofar as possible among Federal agencies and departments responsible for jointly carrying out the strategy, as required by section 6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, as added by section 7 of this Act. 4. Purpose The purpose of this Act and the amendments made by this Act is to strengthen implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533) by— (1) improving coordination and oversight of international water, sanitation, hygiene, and sustainable water management programs within and between United States Government agencies; (2) increasing the sustainability of United States Government-supported water, sanitation, and hygiene programs, including in terms of affordability, accountability, and financial, operational, institutional, and environmental sustainability; (3) enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene expertise within the United States Agency for International Development and the Department of State, which shall include a whole of agency approach to establish a learning agenda aimed at increasing the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of the United States Government-supported water, sanitation, and hygiene programs; and (4) ensuring water, sanitation, and hygiene programs and strategies are reflected in and supported by other development initiatives such as food security, global health, environment, education, gender quality, and conflict prevention and mitigation within and between countries, with the goal of meeting the needs of the poorest and most marginalized people. 5. Improving coordination and oversight of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities (a) In general Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended— (1) by redesignating section 135, as added by section 5(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2536; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as section 136; and (2) in section 136, as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this section— (A) in the section heading, by striking and sanitation and inserting , sanitation, and hygiene; (B) in subsection (b), by striking and sanitation and inserting , sanitation, and hygiene; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subsections: (e) Global water coordinator (1) In general The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) shall designate a senior advisor to coordinate and oversee the Agency’s programs in developing countries that seek to provide affordable and equitable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, who shall be known as the Global Water Coordinator, who shall administer and oversee an office to be known as the Office of Water, Sanitation, and Development, and who shall report directly to the Administrator and the Assistant Administrator overseeing water programs. (2) Duties The Global Water Coordinator shall— (A) oversee implementation of this section, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) and the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013; (B) oversee the buildup of capacity and expertise within USAID to implement this section, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), and the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, including— (i) by appointing USAID mission water advisors in each high priority country, who— (I) shall have or be given the opportunity to fully develop their technical skills and competencies necessary to provide appropriate guidance to technical and program staff to ensure the Water and Development Strategy can be successfully implemented; and (II) shall ensure water, sanitation, and hygiene objectives and indicators are reflected throughout program planning and budgeting documents; (ii) work with USAID regional bureaus, who shall be the primary liaisons between the Global Water Coordinator and mission water advisors, to ensure water, sanitation, and hygiene projects are reflected in country-specific multiyear strategies, multiyear sector strategies, and project designs in each high priority country; and (iii) ensure that water, sanitation, hygiene and water management issues are incorporated into all relevant Agency training programs at the office, regional, and mission levels; (C) lead the implementation of the Water and Development Strategy and oversee the review and development no later than every 5 years of an updated Water and Development Strategy such that it more clearly meets the requirements of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and this Act; (D) assist and monitor the development of country-specific and, where appropriate, regional water strategies, whether independent, or as part of broader USAID country-specific or regional strategies, in coordination with relevant USAID mission directors, other appropriate personnel, and pursuant to the interagency consultation and coordination process as required by section 5(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, ensuring such strategies reflect best practices as they relate to increasing access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene activities, and sustainable water management; (E) ensure sustainable and equitable access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene are reflected in strategies and broader USAID policies or strategies, including policies or strategies relating to food security, global health, environment, education, gender equality, and conflict prevention and mitigation; (F) develop appropriate benchmarks, measurable goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for water, sanitation, and hygiene programs in accordance with and as required by sections 6 and 7 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note); (G) ensure programming for sustainable water management, and equitable access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene are reflected across USAID programming in a manner consistent with the long-term sustainability of service outcomes and freshwater sources; and (H) foster the development, dissemination, and increased and consistent use of low-cost and sustainable technologies, public and private partnerships, credit guarantees and other financing arrangements that leverage non-Federal funds for impact on equitable access to affordable water, sanitation, and hygiene services that will provide long-term benefits to the world’s poorest communities. (3) Staff The Administrator shall ensure that a sufficient number of employees with appropriate experience or expertise are reassigned or detailed from within USAID to assist the Global Water Coordinator in carrying out the duties of paragraph (2). (4) Definitions In this subsection— (A) the term high priority country means a low-income or lower-middle income country designated pursuant to section 6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) and enumerated in the strategy required by such Act, the first iteration of which was released by USAID in May 2013; and (B) the term Water and Development Strategy means the strategy released by USAID in May 2013 and its revisions, required to be developed as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, but no less than 5 years after such date of enactment and every 5 years thereafter under section 6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note). (f) Special advisor for water resources (1) In general The Secretary of State shall designate a senior advisor to develop, coordinate, and oversee United States foreign policy relating to freshwater resources and policies complementary to, and in support of, the United States Agency for International Development’s Water and Development Strategy, who shall be known as the Special Advisor for Water Resources, and who shall report directly to the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary overseeing water programs. (2) Duties The Special Advisor for Water Resources shall— (A) oversee and coordinate the development and implementation of approaches to increasing political will and government support in partner countries in accordance with United States foreign policy on drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, water resource management, and transboundary water, including— (i) working with partner countries and other stakeholders to develop, sustain, and leverage political and financial commitments that would improve access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, and sustainable water management over the long term; (ii) assisting and encouraging other countries and international organizations to plan and manage water resources in an efficient, transparent, equitable, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable manner, taking into account the interdependence among water, food, energy, and sustainable development; (iii) fostering regional and cross-border cooperation for integrated management, use and protection of internationally shared rivers, lakes, and aquifer systems; (iv) preventing and mitigating intra- and trans-boundary conflict over water resources, including through efforts to strengthen international water law and institutions as tools for facilitating cooperation; (v) working with partner countries, international organizations, and other stakeholders to manage water resources in ways that reduce risk and impact from potential water-related shocks such as, but not limited to, droughts or floods, including for improved global food security; and (vi) fostering increased agricultural and urban productivity of water resources; (B) promote and be the representative for United States policy relating to global freshwater issues in key diplomatic and scientific forums; and (C) lead the development and implementation of the Global Water Resources Strategy required by section 6(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) and oversee the review of and update to not later than every 5 years the Global Water Resources Strategy to reflect pressing global challenges and changes. (3) Staff The Secretary of State shall ensure that a sufficient number of employees of the Department of State with appropriate experience or expertise are reassigned or detailed from within the Department of State to assist the Special Advisor for Water Resources in carrying out the duties of paragraph (2). (4) Definitions In this subsection— (A) the term Water and Development Strategy means the strategy released by USAID in May 2013 and its revisions, required to be developed as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, but no less than 5 years after such date of enactment and every 5 years thereafter under section 6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note); and (B) the term Global Water Resources Strategy means the strategy required under section 6(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note). . (b) Interagency consultation and coordination (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the Secretary of State shall develop and implement a process to ensure regular consultation and coordination between the Global Water Coordinator and the Special Advisor for Water Resources so that their efforts are complimentary and in support of the implementation, and subsequent revision not later than every 5 years, of the Global Water Resources Strategy and the Water and Development Strategy. (2) Matters to be included The process required under paragraph (1) should include jointly convened meetings with any Federal department or agency administering United States water, sanitation, and hygiene programs to evaluate progress in carrying out the strategies described in paragraph (1), or the revision to any such strategy, as required by section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by section 7 of this Act. (3) Definitions In this subsection— (A) the term Global Water Coordinator means the Global Water Coordinator designated under section 136(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by subsection (a)(2) of this section; (B) the term Global Water Resources Strategy means the strategy required under section 6(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by section 7 of this Act; (C) the term Special Advisor for Water Resources means the Special Advisor for Water Resources designated under section 136(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by subsection (a)(2) of this section; and (D) the term Water and Development Strategy means the strategy released by USAID in May 2013 and its revisions, required to be developed as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, but no less than 5 years after such date of enactment and every 5 years thereafter under section 6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by section 7 of this Act. 6. Increasing sustainability of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities (a) Principles In order to ensure that water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities of the United States Agency for International Development carried out under the authorities of section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as redesignated and amended by section 5 of this Act, and the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by this Act, achieve maximum impact and continue to deliver lasting benefits after completion, such projects and activities shall be carried out in accordance with, and monitored and evaluated against the following principles: (1) Projects and activities should be targeted to the poorest and most vulnerable countries and communities, including women and girls, displaced persons and refugees, and other marginalized populations. (2) Projects and activities should be designed in consultation with a broad range of local and national stakeholders, including communities directly affected by a lack of access to clean water, sanitation or hygiene, nongovernmental organizations, cooperatives, foundations, universities, private sector entities, and women-focused organizations. (3) Projects and activities to provide services for the poor should be designed wherever possible to be financially or commercially viable over the long term, focusing on local ownership and sustainability, and undertaken in conjunction with relevant public institutions or private enterprise so long as they can provide access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in such a way that strengthens social equity of access and keeps these services affordable to all, especially the poorest of the poor. (4) Governments of countries in which projects and activities are carried out should identify revenue streams sufficient to cover the costs of maintaining public equipment and services with respect to such projects and activities over the long term. (5) Projects and activities should provide for a functioning management and maintenance system comprising tools, supply chains, transport, equipment, training and individuals or institutions with clear responsibilities for achieving sustainability. (6) With respect to projects and activities that are managed by communities or institutions, effective external support should be provided to such communities or institutions. (7) Projects should be designed to provide access to water, sanitation, and hygiene, and sustainable water management through joint programs and other coordinated mechanisms and policies, in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the results achieved, to mitigate any negative environmental impacts, and to ensure the resilience of natural and man-made infrastructure to floods, droughts, and other water-related disasters. (8) Access to water and sanitation should be expanded in an equitable manner and on the basis of need, without regard to race, gender, religion, or ethnic origin. (b) Local ownership Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall establish guidelines and procedures to ensure that— (1) a broad range of local and national stakeholders is consulted in the development of any country-specific water strategy; (2) any water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities authorized under each such strategy are designed to address the specific needs of women and girls; and (3) local civil society organizations, including nonprofit organizations as well as businesses, are full participants in the selection and design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities. (c) Local procurement (1) Authority In providing assistance under the authorities of section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as redesignated and amended by section 5 of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development is authorized to award contracts and other acquisition instruments on a noncompetitive basis to local entities in high priority countries to carry out safe water, sanitation, and hygiene projects and activities in such countries. (2) Limitation A contract or other instrument described in paragraph (1) may not have a value that exceeds $5,000,000. (3) Supersedes other laws The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development may exercise the authority of paragraph (1) notwithstanding any other provision of law. (4) Definitions In this subsection— (A) the term high priority country means a low-income or lower-middle income country designated pursuant to section 6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by section 7 of this Act; and (B) the term local entity means an individual, corporation, or other entity that— (i) is organized under the laws of the high priority country; (ii) has its principal place of business or operations in such country; and (iii) is owned or controlled by citizens of such country. (5) Funding Funds made available to carry out the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) for any fiscal year are authorized to be made available to carry out this subsection. (d) Retention of interest (1) Authority In providing assistance under the authorities of section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as redesignated and amended by section 5 of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development is authorized to enter into agreements with indigenous local private or public groups, associations, or other entities in high priority countries to provide for the retention by such group, association, or other entity, without deposit in the Treasury of the United States and without further appropriation by law, of interest earned on such assistance so provided. (2) Limitation An agreement described in paragraph (1) may not have a value that exceeds $5,000,000. (3) Use of interest Any interest earned on the advance of funds under an agreement authorized under paragraph (1) may be used only for the purposes for which the agreement is made. (4) Audits The Administrator shall, on a regular and recurring basis, audit interest earned on advance funds under an agreement authorized under paragraph (1) to ensure that the requirements of paragraph (3) are met. (5) Definition In this subsection, the term high priority country means a low-income or lower-middle income country designated pursuant to section 6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note), as amended by section 7 of this Act. 7. United States complimentary strategies to increase sustainable, affordable, and equitable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene Section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) is amended to read as follows: 6. United States complimentary strategies to increase sustainable, affordable, and equitable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (a) Global water resources strategy (1) In general As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, and every 5 years thereafter, the President, acting through the Secretary of State, shall develop a strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective to provide affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries, as described in section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and by the Agency’s Water and Development Strategy required under subsection (b). (2) Contents The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall— (A) articulate the United States foreign policy framework that will drive the implementation of the United States foreign policy objectives on increasing access to equitable, clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for the world’s poorest, water resource management, transboundary water and prevention of conflict over water resources; and (B) address ways in which United States foreign policy efforts will promote global water security by building political will and partnerships, and support for national level planning processes, in conjunction with the United States Agency for International Development and other Federal agencies, and leveraging expertise, knowledge, technology and resources that will increase the likelihood that the world’s poor receive or continue to have the water they need, when and where they need it, in a sustainable, equitable and conflict-free manner. (3) Consultation The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall be developed in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, international organizations, international financial institutions, recipient governments, United States and international nongovernmental organizations, indigenous civil society, and other appropriate entities, and shall be complimentary to, or ultimately joined with, the Agency’s Water and Development Strategy required under subsection (b) and subsequent revisions thereto. (4) Implementation The Secretary of State, acting through the Under Secretary of State who has responsibility to oversee water programs and the Special Advisor for Water Resources, shall implement the strategy required under paragraph (1). The strategy may also be implemented in part by other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate. (5) Consistent with safe water and sanitation policy The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the policy stated in section 3 of this Act. (6) Content The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, and timetables to achieve the objective described in paragraph (1); (B) an assessment of the level of funding and other assistance for United States water and sanitation programs needed each by the United States Department of State year to achieve the goals, benchmarks, and timetables described in subparagraph (A); (C) methods to coordinate and integrate United States water, water resources and sanitation assistance carried out by the Department of State with water, sanitation, hygiene and water resource development programs carried out by the United States Agency for International Development and other Federal agencies to achieve the objective described in paragraph (1); (D) methods to better coordinate United States water and sanitation assistance programs with programs of other donor countries and entities to achieve the objective described in paragraph (1); and (E) an assessment of the commitment of governments of countries that receive assistance under section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to policies or policy reforms that support affordable and equitable access by the people of such countries to safe water and sanitation. (b) Water and Development Strategy (1) In general As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, but no less than 5 years after such date of enactment and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, acting through the Global Water Coordinator and in consultation with the Special Advisor for Water Resources, shall develop a strategy, to be known as the Water and Development Strategy, to further, through the United States Agency for International Development, the United States foreign assistance objective to provide affordable, equitable, and sustainable access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries, as described in section 136 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Such strategy shall be complimentary to the United States foreign policy objectives of the safe water and sanitation strategy required under subsection (a) and shall be transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees and made publicly available on the Internet. (2) Contents The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall provide an ambitious vision for leadership of the international development objectives of this Act and the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013 and meet the following requirements: (A) Consistency with safe water, sanitation, and hygiene policy The strategy shall be consistent with the policy stated in section 3 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note). (B) Criteria for determining high priority countries The strategy shall identify low-income and lower-middle income countries with a severe lack of access to affordable, equitable, and sustainable safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, by assessing— (i) the government or nongovernmental organizational capacity or commitment to manage and implement affordable, equitable, and sustainable solutions, in accordance with section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013; (ii) opportunities to leverage existing indigenous public sector, local, donor or private sector investments in the water, sanitation and water resource management sector; (iii) the number of people and percent of the population without access to an improved source of safe drinking water in or close to home, disaggregated by rural, peri-urban, or urban geographic location; (iv) the number of people and percent of the population without access to an improved source of sanitation in or close to home, disaggregated by rural, peri-urban, or urban geographic location; (v) the mortality rate and number of deaths of children under 5 years old due to diarrhea; (vi) the mortality rate and number of deaths of children under 5 years old due to pneumonia; (vii) the number and proportion of children under 5 years old who are under-nourished; (viii) the average time burden of water collection in rural areas; (ix) the coexistence in a single geographic area of two or more diseases categorized as a neglected tropical disease spread in whole or in part due to lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation or hygiene, as defined by the Agency; and (x) the degree to which water, sanitation, and hygiene programs are identified as a priority by a beneficiary government, region, or community, as identified in national plans and strategies and the country-specific multiyear strategies as developed by the Agency mission in consultation with the national government and civil society. (C) Designating high priority countries The strategy shall select 10 to 20 of the eligible countries identified through the assessment required by subparagraph (B) and identify such countries as high priority countries. (D) Requirements for high priority countries Each country selected as a high priority country shall be the focus of the Agency’s water, sanitation, and hygiene programming, and the strategy shall develop comprehensive and holistic individual country plans for each high priority country so as to meet the objectives of paragraph (1). Such plans shall include— (i) a results framework, in accordance with the sustainability principles identified in section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, and monitoring and evaluation principles identified in section 7 of this Act, which shall include indicators composed of those criteria used in paragraph (2) to identify high priority countries, that shall be used to measure the long-term impacts and sustainability of programs, including the ongoing commitment of host-country institutions, or lack thereof, and increased access to water, sanitation, and hygiene projects, programs and services provided directly or leveraged by the United States Government; and (ii) a clearly described process by which the strategy shall be aligned, coordinated, and leveraged with United States development strategies, policies, and international development initiatives that operate within the high priority country, to include coordination with and reflected in the high priority country’s comprehensive strategy for United States Government-supported development assistance. (E) Additional requirements for high priority countries For each high priority country, the Agency’s mission director for such country shall— (i) designate sustainably increasing access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a strategic objective, reflected in country-specific strategies that incorporate sustainable water management goals and targets in accordance with this Act; and (ii) ensure, where complimentary, that the benefits of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene are reflected in other development initiatives. (3) Rule of construction relating to initial strategy The Agency’s Water and Development Strategy, issued in May 2013, shall be deemed to be the initial strategy required under paragraph (1) and shall be updated in a timely manner as required by paragraph (1). (4) Implementation plan Not later than 90 days after the date of transmission of the initial strategy required under paragraph (1), the Global Water Coordinator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an implementation plan detailing how the United States Agency for International Development will institutionalize the strategy, including— (A) the budget resources needed to achieve the goals, benchmarks, and timetables described in this subsection, and an assessment of what will likely be achieved at current funding levels; and (B) the number, types, and levels of specialists and generalists currently employed, and projected to be needed, in each functional and geographic area, including support, management, and administrative functions, to carry out the strategy. (5) Collaboration and coordination (A) In general In developing the strategy required under paragraph (1)), and the implementation plan required under paragraph (4), the Global Water Coordinator shall— (i) consult with relevant Executive agencies; (ii) consult with the Special Advisor for Water Resources; (iii) consult with the Interagency Consultation and Coordination process as required by section 5(b) of the Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013; and (iv) consult with representatives of civil society and multi-lateral organizations with demonstrated experience in addressing the lack of access to affordable, equitable and sustainable safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in developing countries. (B) Public comment In carrying out paragraph (1)(D), the Global Water Coordinator shall allow public comments to be submitted for consideration through a mechanism of the Global Water Coordinator’s choosing, except that such comment period shall last not less than 45 days. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Global water coordinator The term Global Water Coordinator means the Global Water Coordinator designated under section 136(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. (2) Special advisor for water resources The term Special Advisor for Water Resources means the Special Advisor for Water Resources designated under section 136(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. . 8. Transparency and monitoring and evaluation Section 7 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note) is amended to read as follows: 7. Transparency and monitoring and evaluation (a) Transparency (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall, as part of the Agency’s Internet Web site, establish and maintain a Web page to make publicly available comprehensive, timely, comparable, and accessible information on United States water, sanitation, and hygiene foreign assistance programs. The head of each Federal department or agency that administers such programs shall on a quarterly basis publish and update on the Web page such information with respect to programs of the department or agency. (2) Matters to be included (A) In general To ensure transparency, accountability, and effectiveness of United States water, sanitation, and hygiene foreign assistance programs, the information required by paragraph (1) shall include— (i) the strategy required by section 6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2533; 22 U.S.C. 2152h note); (ii) a list of countries that meet the criteria outlined in section 6(b)(2)(B) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005; (iii) an identification of each country designated as a high priority country under section 6(b)(2)(C) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, including a fully articulated rationale of why each country received the designation; (iv) for each fiscal year, information on the amount of funds expended in each country or program to carry out this Act and the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, disaggregated by purpose of assistance, including information on capital investments, and the source of such funds by account; and (v) evaluations of water, sanitation, and hygiene programs. (B) Posting requirements Such information shall be published on the Web page not later than 30 days after the date of issuance of the information and shall be continuously updated. (C) Report in lieu of inclusion If the head of a Federal department or agency described in paragraph (1) makes a determination that the inclusion of a required item of information on the Web page would jeopardize the health or security of an implementing partner or program beneficiary or would be detrimental to the national interests of the United States, such item of information may be submitted to Congress in a written report in lieu of including it on the Web page, along with the reasons for not including it on the Web page. (3) Database The Web page shall also contain a link to a searchable database available to the public containing such information relating to the current fiscal year and, as available, for each prior fiscal year dating to and including fiscal year 2006. (4) Form Such information shall be published on the Web page in unclassified form. Any information determined to be classified information may be submitted to Congress in classified form and an unclassified summary of such information shall be published on the Web page. (b) Monitoring and evaluation (1) In general With regard to water, sanitation, and hygiene programming, the Global Water Coordinator shall ensure that the Agency monitors and evaluates projects and activities carried out under such programs, including carrying out assessments of impact where appropriate, and ensuring results of evaluations are used to inform the design of such projects and activities. Such monitoring and evaluations shall— (A) be carried out in accordance with, and measured against the principles described in section 6(b) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 and, where appropriate, the goals established section 6(b)(2)(D) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005; and (B) conduct longer term monitoring and evaluation of its water activities in order to assess sustainability beyond the typical Agency program cycle and to enable reasonable support to issues that arise post implementation. (2) Mandatory set-aside for monitoring and evaluation Each water, sanitation, and hygiene project shall be planned and budgeted to include funding for both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation so that the United States Government and other stakeholders can ascertain the long-term return on investment of United States assistance funds and to enable learning about the sustainability of assistance programs and projects that shall inform future projects and programs. (3) When to conduct evaluations The evaluation of water, sanitation, and hygiene projects should include measurable goals and performance metrics, to be tracked against an established baseline at the outset. Such evaluations should occur immediately following the completion of a project, and no fewer than half of all water, sanitation, and hygiene projects shall be reevaluated 5 years after the completion of the project, all in accordance with the requirements and metrics enumerated in paragraph (1). (4) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Monitoring The term monitoring means, with respect to a United States water, sanitation, or hygiene foreign assistance program, a continuing function that uses systematic collection of data on specified indicators to provide management and the main stakeholders of an ongoing development intervention with indications of the extent of progress and achievement of objectives and progress in the use of allocated funds. (B) Evaluation The term evaluation means, with respect to a United States water, sanitation, or hygiene foreign assistance program, the systematic collection and analysis of information about the characteristics and outcomes of the program and projects under the program as a basis for judgments, to improve effectiveness, and to inform decisions about current and future programming, including an explanation of the reasons for or causes of the observed results. .