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Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005

Public Law 109-121 · H.R. 1973 · 109th Congress · began in the House

Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Dec 1, 2005 · International Affairs

Sponsor: Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3)

Cosponsors (101): Rep. Clay Shaw,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 319 yea, 34 nay319–34
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

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, 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.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 109th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 319 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

319 yea34 nay80 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(149)

  • Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
  • Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
  • Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
  • Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
  • Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
  • Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
  • Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
  • Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
  • Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
  • Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
  • Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
  • Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
  • Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
  • Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
  • Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
  • Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
  • Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
  • Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
  • Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
  • Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
  • Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
  • Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
  • Rep. Tom UdallD-NM-3
  • Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
  • Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
  • Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
  • Rep. Julia CarsonD-IN-7
  • Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
  • Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
  • Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
  • Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
  • Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
  • Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
  • Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
  • Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
  • Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
  • Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
  • Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
  • Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
  • Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
  • Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
  • Rep. David WuD-OR-1
  • Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
  • Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
  • Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
  • Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
  • Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
  • Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
  • Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
  • Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
  • Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
  • Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
  • Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
  • Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
  • Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
  • Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
  • Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
  • Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
  • Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
  • Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
  • Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
  • Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
  • Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
  • Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
  • Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
  • Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
  • Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
  • Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
  • Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
  • Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1
  • Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
  • Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
  • Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
  • Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
  • Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
  • Rep. Mark UdallD-CO-2
  • Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
  • Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
  • Rep. Rahm EmanuelD-IL-5
  • Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
  • Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
  • Rep. Kendrick MeekD-FL-17
  • Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
  • Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
  • Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
  • Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
  • Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47
  • Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
  • Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
  • Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
  • Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
  • Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
  • Rep. Darlene HooleyD-OR-5
  • Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
  • Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
  • Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
  • Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
  • Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
  • Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
  • Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
  • Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
  • Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
  • Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
  • Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
  • Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
  • Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
  • Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
  • Rep. Jim DavisD-FL-11
  • Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
  • Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
  • Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
  • Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
  • Rep. John SalazarD-CO-3
  • Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
  • Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
  • Rep. Artur DavisD-AL-7
  • Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
  • Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
  • Rep. Dennis CardozaD-CA-18
  • Rep. Stephanie Herseth SandlinD-SD
  • Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20
  • Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
  • Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
  • Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
  • Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-4
  • Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-17
  • Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
  • Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
  • Rep. Melissa BeanD-IL-8
  • Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
  • Rep. Charles MelanconD-LA-3
  • Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
  • Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
  • Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
  • Rep. Jim MarshallD-GA-3
  • Rep. Dan BorenD-OK-2
  • Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5

Republicans who voted yea(170)

  • Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
  • Rep. Rob SimmonsR-CT-2
  • Rep. Michael FitzpatrickR-PA-8
  • Rep. Jim GerlachR-PA-6
  • Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
  • Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
  • Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-24
  • Rep. Timothy JohnsonR-IL-15
  • Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19
  • Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
  • Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
  • Rep. John McHughR-NY-23
  • Rep. David ReichertR-WA-8
  • Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
  • Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1
  • Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
  • Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
  • Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
  • Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
  • Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
  • Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
  • Rep. John SweeneyR-NY-20
  • Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
  • Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
  • Rep. Jon PorterR-NV-3
  • Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
  • Rep. Rick RenziR-AZ-1
  • Rep. Thad McCotterR-MI-11
  • Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
  • Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
  • Rep. Chip PickeringR-MS-3
  • Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
  • Rep. Mike FergusonR-NJ-7
  • Rep. Randy KuhlR-NY-29
  • Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. Tom OsborneR-NE-3
  • Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
  • Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
  • Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
  • Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11
  • Rep. Jeff FortenberryR-NE-1
  • Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
  • Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-50
  • Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11
  • Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
  • Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
  • Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
  • Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
  • Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
  • Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
  • Rep. Thomas ReynoldsR-NY-26
  • Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-3
  • Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
  • Rep. John PetersonR-PA-5
  • Rep. Richard PomboR-CA-11
  • Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
  • Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
  • Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
  • Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
  • Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7
  • Rep. Anne NorthupR-KY-3
  • Rep. John BoozmanR-AR-3
  • Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-24
  • Rep. Don SherwoodR-PA-10
  • Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-1
  • Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-22
  • Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
  • Rep. Don YoungR-AK
  • Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
  • Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
  • Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
  • Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-44
  • Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
  • Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
  • Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
  • Rep. Thelma DrakeR-VA-2
  • Rep. Jean SchmidtR-OH-2
  • Rep. Rodney AlexanderR-LA-5
  • Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1
  • Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
  • Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
  • Rep. Michael McCaulR-TX-10
  • Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4
  • Rep. Devin NunesR-CA-21
  • Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-9
  • Rep. Jo BonnerR-AL-1
  • Rep. Mark KennedyR-MN-6
  • Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
  • Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-3
  • Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
  • Rep. Melissa HartR-PA-4
  • Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-4
  • Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
  • Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
  • Rep. Henry BrownR-SC-1
  • Rep. Jeb BradleyR-NH-1
  • Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
  • Rep. Ralph HallR-TX-4
  • Rep. Adam PutnamR-FL-12
  • Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
  • Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-8
  • Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3
  • Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
  • Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
  • Rep. Henry BonillaR-TX-23
  • Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
  • Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
  • Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
  • Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13
  • Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
  • Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
  • Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
  • Rep. Mark GreenR-WI-8
  • Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
  • Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
  • Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
  • Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
  • Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-25
  • Rep. Cathy McMorris RodgersR-WA-5
  • Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
  • Rep. Jo Ann DavisR-VA-1
  • Rep. John CarterR-TX-31
  • Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2
  • Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
  • Rep. Bobby JindalR-LA-1
  • Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
  • Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
  • Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
  • Rep. Terry EverettR-AL-2
  • Rep. John KlineR-MN-2
  • Rep. Ric KellerR-FL-8
  • Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
  • Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
  • Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-4
  • Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19
  • Rep. Barbara CubinR-WY
  • Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
  • Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
  • Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
  • Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-3
  • Rep. Rob BishopR-UT-1
  • Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
  • Rep. Jim RyunR-KS-2
  • Rep. Connie MackR-FL-14
  • Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-5
  • Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
  • Rep. Phil GingreyR-GA-11
  • Rep. Bob BeauprezR-CO-7
  • Rep. John SullivanR-OK-1
  • Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
  • Rep. Ted PoeR-TX-2
  • Rep. Chris CannonR-UT-3
  • Rep. Louie GohmertR-TX-1
  • Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
  • Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4
  • Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-5
  • Rep. Chris ChocolaR-IN-2
  • Rep. John LinderR-GA-7
  • Rep. Todd AkinR-MO-2
  • Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-40
  • Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
  • Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
  • Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
  • Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-46
  • Rep. Marsha BlackburnR-TN-7
  • Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
  • Rep. J. Gresham BarrettR-SC-3
  • Rep. Butch OtterR-ID-1
  • Rep. Tom TancredoR-CO-6
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 570 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Related bills

1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • S. 492Related bill

    Safe Water: Currency for Peace Act of 2005

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.

  1. Dec 1, 2005Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 109-121.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 28, 2005FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 16, 2005FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  5. FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  6. OtherOther · Cleared for White House.
  7. Nov 8, 2005CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate, read twice.
  8. Nov 7, 2005FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  9. FloorFloor · 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).House roll call 571
  10. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  11. FloorFloor · 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.
  12. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1973.
  13. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  14. FloorFloor · Mr. Poe moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  15. Oct 28, 2005CalendarCalendar · Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 141.
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 109-260.
  17. Oct 27, 2005CommitteeCommittee · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H9279)
  18. Oct 26, 2005CommitteeCommittee · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H9106)
  19. Sep 15, 2005CommitteeCommittee · Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  20. CommitteeCommittee · Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  21. Apr 28, 2005CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
  22. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

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Amendments

No amendments to this bill are on record.

Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

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Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.