Advocating for Water Safety on Capitol Hill: USSSA at Hill Day
This spring, USSSA proudly joined partners from across the aquatics and pool industry in Washington, D.C. for PHTA’s annual Hill Day, an important opportunity to elevate water safety and drowning prevention as national priorities.
Representing USSSA, Lisa Zarda, Jim Spiers, and Melissa McGarvey participated in a series of meetings with Senate and House offices, engaging directly with policymakers and staff to advocate for meaningful, life-saving legislation.
A Unified Voice for Water Safety
Hill Day brought together industry leaders to meet with dozens of congressional offices and discuss issues impacting aquatic safety, workforce development, and access to swimming opportunities.
For USSSA, the focus was clear: expanding access to swim lessons and reducing barriers that prevent families from equipping their children with critical water safety skills.
Advancing the SWIM Act
A central priority during our meetings was building support for the Safe Water Instruction for Minors (SWIM) Act.
The SWIM Act would allow families to use pre-tax dollars from Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to pay for swim lessons, making this essential skill more affordable and accessible.
This legislation represents a practical, bipartisan step toward addressing a growing public health concern. Drowning rates have increased in recent years, particularly among underserved communities, while research consistently shows that swim lessons significantly reduce risk.
Building Momentum in Congress
During Hill Day, our delegation emphasized the urgent need for:
- A Senate champion to introduce companion legislation
- Additional House co-sponsors to strengthen bipartisan support
While the SWIM Act has already gained traction in the House, continued advocacy and coalition-building are essential to moving the bill forward through Congress. As with any legislation, progress depends on sustained engagement and strong congressional backing.
Why This Matters
Access to swim lessons is not just a recreational issue, it is a matter of safety and equity. By reducing financial barriers, the SWIM Act has the potential to expand lifesaving skills to more children nationwide.
Hill Day reinforced the impact of showing up, sharing our stories, and advocating together. When organizations like USSSA bring their voices to Capitol Hill, we help ensure that water safety remains part of the national conversation.
