The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Reauthorization Act (VGBA) continues to gain support in both the House and Senate. The Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) has endorsed the bill, which seeks to reauthorize and update 2008 legislation requiring every public pool in the U.S. to install safe drain covers that prevent suction entrapment.

The act allocates funding for grants that can be used for swim lessons, enforcing pool and spa safety laws, as well as educating communities about drowning and entrapment dangers. The legislation also expands program eligibility to non-profit organizations and Indian Tribes. If passed, the law would authorize $5 million per year from 2022 to 2027 for use in locations that have enacted a qualifying minimum swimming pool and spa safety laws such as the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 American National Standard for Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies.

The bill has gained support since being introduced on May 24, in both the House (H.R. 7877) by Reps. Wasserman Schultz (FL) and Carter (TX) and in the Senate (S. 4296) by Sens. Klobuchar (MN) and Blunt (MO). The House bill now has 15 cosponsors with Reps. Castor (FL) and Bourdeaux (GA) recently signing on in support.

Photo credit. VGB_Act_CPSC_GuideCompliance_1