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HR 1973 109th Congress House

Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005

Official title: To make access to safe water and sanitation for developing countries a specific policy objective of the United States foreign assistance programs, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 28, 2005 See on congress.gov
International Affairs American investmentsAquifersCitizen participationCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
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CommerceCommunity organizationCongressCongress and foreign policyCongressional reporting requirementsCounterpart fundsDeveloping countriesEconomic assistanceEconomic developmentEconomics and Public FinanceEnvironmental ProtectionFederally-guaranteed loansFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceForeign loansGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthInfrastructureInternational cooperationInternational environmental cooperationInvestment guaranty insuranceMaintenance and repairPerformance measurementPotable waterPovertyPublic-private partnershipsRefuse and refuse disposalRevolving fundsSewage treatmentSocial WelfareStrategic planningUnited Nations economic assistanceWater Resources DevelopmentWater pollution controlWater qualityWater supplyWater treatment plantsWatershedsWellsWomenWomen's rightsWorld health
 Everywhere this bill has been 23 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 1, 2005
Became Public Law No: 109-121.
Dec 1, 2005
Signed by President.
Nov 28, 2005
Presented to President.
Nov 16, 2005
Cleared for White House.
Nov 16, 2005
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 16, 2005
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 16, 2005
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 8, 2005
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Nov 7, 2005
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 319 - 34 (Roll no. 571). (text: CR H9703-9705)
Nov 7, 2005
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 7, 2005
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9812)
Nov 7, 2005
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Nov 7, 2005
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1973.
Nov 7, 2005
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9703-9709)
Nov 7, 2005
Mr. Poe moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Oct 28, 2005
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 141.
Oct 28, 2005
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 109-260.
Oct 27, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H9279)
Oct 26, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H9106)
Sep 15, 2005
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 15, 2005
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 28, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Apr 28, 2005
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Nov 7, 2005 House · vote #571 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 319–34 See who voted →
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 Latest action December 1, 2005

Became Public Law No: 109-121.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 - (Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) in order to make the most effective use of amounts of official development assistance for water and sanitation and avoid waste and duplication, the United States should seek to establish innovative international coordination mechanisms based on best practices in other development sectors; and (2) the United States should greatly increase the amount of official development assistance.

(Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to furnish assistance for programs in developing countries to provide affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation by: (1) expanding affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation for underserved populations; (2) supporting the design, construction, and operation of water delivery and sanitation systems; (3) improving the safety and reliability of water supplies, including environmental management; and (4) improving the capacity of recipient governments and local communities.

Authorizes the President to use local currency payments under title I of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to provide such assistance.

(Sec. 6) Directs the President, through the Secretary of State (Secretary) to develop a strategy to be implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to further the U.S. foreign assistance objective of providing affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries.

Sets forth: (1) strategy contents, including designation of high priority countries; and (2) reporting and monitoring requirements.

(Sec. 8) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should expand current programs and develop new programs to train local water and sanitation managers and other officials of recipient countries.

(Sec. 9) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should support U.N. agency water and sanitation activities, such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct each U.S. executive director at the multilateral development banks to encourage the inclusion of water and sanitation programs as a critical element of their development assistance.

(Sec. 10) Expresses the sense of Congress that U.S. programs to support and encourage efforts around the world to develop river basin, aquifer, and other watershed-wide mechanisms for governance and cooperation are critical components of long-term U.S. national security and should be expanded.

Directs the Secretary to report to the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on U.S. efforts to promote programs that develop river basin, aquifer, and other watershed-wide mechanisms for governance and cooperation.

(Sec. 11) Authorizes additional appropriations beginning with FY2006 to carry out this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1973: Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1973/
MLA
"H.R. 1973: Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1973/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1973, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1973/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1973: Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1973/)
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