As the United Nations begins its summit on the Millennium Development Goals in New York (and makes traffic unbearable for us locals), the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent the Water for the World Act, a bill that strengthens the clean water and sanitation foreign assistance priorities. If passed by the U.S. House, the legislation would focus and strengthen the United States contribution to meeting the MDGs.

"The Water for the World Act helps refocus America's foreign assistance on one of the most dangerous problems facing developing countries: lack of access to clean drinking water," Congressman Earl Blumenauer. "By working to provide clean water for the first time to 100 million people, we can bring safety and stability to regions where access to water has been a major cause of conflict."