October, 09 2019, 12:00am EDT
Food & Water Action Calls On All Presidential Candidates to Join Warren, Sanders in Opposing Water Privatization
Today, Senator Elizabeth Warren issued a Climate Justice Plan that included a promise to support public ownership of water systems. She joins Senator Bernie Sanders in publicly opposing water privatization. Now, we've heard commitments from two Democratic Presidential candidates that they will oppose water privatization and support public control of water services. Food & Water Action calls on every Presidential candidate to recognize water as a human right, support the WATER Act and join the fight to keep water public.
WASHINGTON
Today, Senator Elizabeth Warren issued a Climate Justice Plan that included a promise to support public ownership of water systems. She joins Senator Bernie Sanders in publicly opposing water privatization. Now, we've heard commitments from two Democratic Presidential candidates that they will oppose water privatization and support public control of water services. Food & Water Action calls on every Presidential candidate to recognize water as a human right, support the WATER Act and join the fight to keep water public.
Food & Water Action Executive Director Wenonah Hauter issued the following statement:
"Safe, affordable water for all is non-negotiable but access is at risk if elected officials relinquish control to private, profit-driven water corporations. More and more communities across the nation are facing dangerous water crises, from lead poisoning to infrastructure failures, from PFAS contamination to mass water shutoffs. That's why communities need a strong federal commitment to safe water by passing the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity and Reliability (WATER) Act in Congress. Previous ploys to privatize water service show time and time again that giving over control of water to corporations exacerbates these problems and means worse service, increased costs, and less accountability.
"We welcome Senator Warren joining Senator Sanders in opposing water privatization and call on all presidential candidates to do the same.
"As the country continues to grapple with how to respond to climate change, federal investment in publicly controlled water should be at the forefront of the conversation as part of a just and fair transition to 100 percent renewable energy. We need presidential candidates who recognize the importance of keeping water in public hands, no ifs, ands, or buts."
Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people's health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.
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