The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Reauthorization Act (VGBA) was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 23, 2025.
H.R. 4751 seeks to reauthorize and update 2008 legislation requiring every public pool in the United States to install safe drain covers that prevent suction entrapment, in an effort to decrease drownings in pools and spas.
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance supports the bipartisan bill, which was reintroduced by U.S. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), John Carter (R-TX), and Donald Norcross (D-NJ).
“The VGBA closely aligns with PHTA’s core purpose, which is to promote safe and healthy pool and hot tub environments for people to share enjoyable aquatic experiences,” said Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President and CEO of PHTA. “We are very pleased to see its reauthorization reintroduced in the House with bipartisan support. PHTA is proud to have developed two industry safety standards that establish requirements for suction outlet fitting assemblies and suction entrapment avoidance that are VGBA compliant. This legislation has proven to save lives, and PHTA will continue to advocate for its reauthorization.”
The VGBA aims to improve the safety of all pools and spas by increasing the layers of protection and promoting uninterrupted supervision to prevent child drowning and entrapment. The VGBA requires every public pool in the United States to install safe drain covers that prevent suction entrapment; initiates a grant program for states, municipalities, and Indian tribes to support water safety education and enforce pool and spa safety laws; and launches Pool Safely, a national drowning prevention public education campaign.
In the U.S., drowning kills nearly 4,000 people every year and is the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1-4. PHTA has supported the VGBA since its original introduction and applauds the congresspeople who have voted for the reauthorization of this lifesaving legislation. During PHTA’s annual Day on the Hill event, VGBA reauthorization is one of the main topics PHTA members discuss with their local representatives and senators to show that the pool, spa, and hot tub industry is united in support.
PHTA members and industry advocates are encouraged to contact their congressional representatives and voice support for H.R. 4751.
Contact Justin Wiley, PHTA Vice President of Government Relations, Standards, and Codes, at jwiley@phta.org.
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