DESALTING TECHNOLOGIES.

SEC. 268. DESALTING TECHNOLOGIES. (a) Findings.— Congress makes the following findings: (1) Access to scarce fresh water is likely to be a cause of future military conflicts in the Middle East and has a direct impact on stability and security in the region. (2) The Middle East is an area of vital and strategic importance to the United States. (3) The United States has played a military role in the Middle East, most recently in the Persian Gulf War, and may likely be called upon again to deter aggression in the region. (4) United States troops have used desalting technologies to guarantee the availability of fresh water in past deployments in the Middle East. (5) Adequate, efficient, and cheap access to high-quality fresh water will be vital to maintaining the readiness and sustainability of troops of both the United States and its allies. (b) Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that, as improved access to fresh water will be an important factor in helping prevent future conflicts in the Middle East, the United States should, in cooperation with its allies, promote and invest in technologies to reduce the costs of converting saline water into fresh water. 110 STAT. 2469 (c) Funding for Research and Development.— Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this title, the Secretary shall place greater emphasis on making funds available for research and development into efficient and economical processes and methods for converting saline water into fresh water.