{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://shimkus.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/paul-simon-water-for-the-world-act-signed-into-law", "Paul Simon Water for the World Act Signed Into Law", "2014-12-29", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "IL", "John Shimkus", "S000364", "shimkus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013\u00a0Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) is pleased to announce that the President signed the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act into law on December 19. Shimkus was a cosponsor of the bill, which passed the House December 8 and then passed the Senate on December 15.\n\u201cWhile this legislation does not have a direct effect on Southern Illinois, Senator Simon\u2019s legacy lives on through this initiative to utilize water, sanitation, and hygiene as tools for foreign assistance,\u201d Shimkus noted. The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act was originally established in 2005, and this law amends that legislation.\nSpecifically, this law directs the Secretary of State:\n To develop a strategy every five years to further U.S. foreign policy objectives by providing affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation in developing counties; and\n\tTo develop a complementary strategy to further U.S. foreign assistance to provide affordable and equitable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries.\n Shimkus added, \u201cFirst, it is noteworthy that both the House and the Senate passed this bill on voice votes \u2013 without any objections, which is quite amazing in today\u2019s political world. Second, this law helps make the water programs be more focused, efficient, transparent, and better monitored.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://shimkus.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/paul-simon-water-for-the-world-act-signed-into-law"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4433437027037144, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}