Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin spoke on the Senate floor honoring World Water Day - a tribute to former Illinois Senator Paul Simon.
In honor of his legacy, Durbin introduced The Paul Simon Water for the World Act, to build on and expand the original Paul Simon for the Poor Act. Simon was the author of the book “Tapped Out,” which warned of the world’s looming clean water crisis.
Durbin wanted to recognize what has been accomplished in the years since these two pieces of legislation became law.
"They have helped provide first time access to clean drinking water and sanitation for more than 60 million additional people across the globe. Those successes have also helped improve global health, economic development, and educational attainment. And they have proven how far just a little federal funding can go."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 884 million people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water and more than two billion do not have access to basic sanitation.