Expressing the sense of the Congress with regard to the world's freshwater resources.

Asserts that: (1) water management priorities should reflect the goals of safeguarding and sustaining water resources; (2) U.S. executive directors of international financial institutions should not approve loans that require increased cost recovery or water privatization or public-private partnerships that would result in significant increases in consumer water fees or in other ways restrict affordable access to water; and (3) federal policies should ensure that sources of water pollution are adequately regulated and those responsible held accountable for the pollution they cause.

Affirms: (1) that water should not be treated as a private commodity where this would limit or deny public access to freshwater resources; (2) that Congress firmly commits itself to meet the Millennium Development Goals; and (3) that access to international loans and debt reduction programs should not be conditioned on implementing increased cost recovery policies when those policies would result in significantly increased water rates that reduce access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Deems that federal funding not be conditioned on the consideration of forms of privatization that would restrict affordable access to water.

Upholds the principle that governments should engage all members of society in participation in overseeing decisions concerning water conservation and management.

Recommends that trade agreements should not include conditions related to the provision of water for human use that would result in reduced access to water.

Recognizes: (1) the need to fully fund the Water for the Poor Act of 2007; and (2) that sufficient and safe drinking water is a precondition for the realization of all other human rights.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov