( CNN ) -- Toilet , latrine , loo , washroom , baÃ±o , water closet , toilette -- no matter what you might call it , toilets are a basic tool for sanitation . And in many countries , access to one is taken as a given . But not for the 1.1 billion people who have to defecate in the open . Men , women and children who are left to face conditions that are unsanitary , sometimes dangerous and often humiliating . So what if we told you the United States could help address the problem ? And that there is actually bipartisan ( yes , you read that right ) legislation on the table ? Because there is -- and the U.S. Congress has a unique opportunity to continue this leadership by investing in increased access to water and sanitation around the world . More than a hundred members of Congress have crossed the aisles and joined co-sponsors Reps. Earl Blumenauer ( D-Oregon ) and Ted Poe ( R-Texas ) to champion the Water for the World Act . And they are joined by over 80 civil society organizations that have raised their voices to support the bill . If passed , the Water for the World Act -- which moved through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday -- would help improve the lives of 2.5 billion people who live without a basic latrine . How ? By ensuring funding for water programs get to the communities with the greatest need , a key step in addressing these critical issues , while making one of the best investments the United States can make . The lack of access to water and sanitation is a global problem that impacts health and economic development for all . Consider this : In many parts of the world , girls and women are disproportionately expected to find water , with many facing treks of several hours to a stream and back across often unsafe terrain . This can affect girls ' ability to participate in the classroom , if they have time to attend at all . And for girls that attend schools that do not have private bathrooms , the cultural shame and embarrassment of menstruation more often than not pushes them to drop out . This is a major loss to the local community , because when women and girls have the tools they need to provide a healthier life for their families through education , it has a tremendous ripple effect across all areas of local development . Now is the time for Congress to act by helping the United States support other nations in the global effort to provide access to clean water and sanitation worldwide . The results could be dramatic . Just look at Ghana , where by the end of 2015 it is expected that less than 5 % of people living in the five most affected regions of that country will be practicing open defecation , while more than half of them will be using improved toilet or latrine facilities . The Ghanaian government is looking to increase access to water and sanitation across the country with a goal of ensuring more than three quarters of Ghanaians have access to safe drinking water , an advance that would help keep waterborne diseases at bay . This is the kind of plan the United States should be behind , and it is the sort of progress that should be celebrated and recognized by donor countries around the world , not least because future significant advances require the support of key donor countries like the United States and Britain . So , will Congress respond ? The finish line is within reach -- and we can not afford to stop short by failing to pass the legislation before the end of this congressional session . By passing this bill , Congress would be sending a powerful statement that it is committed to the post-2015 development agenda , and helping hundreds of millions of people around the globe who lack clean water and sanitation . Because the reality is that no matter what you call it , a toilet can mean the difference between life or death .
Charles Rangel and Hugh Carey : Poor access to water a global problem . Water for the Future Act would help improve the lives of 2.5 billion people , they say . Authors : It 's essential bill passed before end of congressional session .