Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act

Jennifer A. Kiggans

Republican · VA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

2026-07-22

Source: Congress.gov

The proposal would establish new safety standards and monitoring requirements for public beaches to protect swimmers from hazards like dangerous water conditions, pollution, and harmful bacteria. It would require regular testing and public notification of water quality issues, giving beachgoers the information they need to make safe decisions about swimming. The bill affects coastal communities, beach visitors, and local governments responsible for beach management and public health.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5063 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5063 To ensure continuity of staffing at Federal beaches, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 29, 2025 Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To ensure continuity of staffing at Federal beaches, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act''. SEC. 2. ADEQUATE LIFEGUARD STAFFING AT FEDERAL SWIMMING AREAS AND BEACHES. (a) In General.--If the Secretary determines there is a staffing shortage with respect to a designated swim location, the Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with one or more local government agencies to enable lifeguards employed by those local government agencies to-- (1) adequately staff such designated swim location during normal seasonal operating hours; and (2) ensure visitor safety and provide rescue and first aid services at the designated swim location as necessary. (b) Reimbursement.-- (1) In general.--In entering into an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the local government agency providing the lifeguard services is reimbursed for all reasonable costs incurred by the local government agency in carrying out the agreement. (2) Current agreements.--If an agreement has been entered into by the Secretary and a local government agency for lifeguard services at a designated swim location on or before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall amend such agreement as necessary to provide for the reimbursement of the local government agency for all reasonable costs incurred by the local government agency in carrying out the agreement, regardless of the terms of the original agreement relating to cost sharing. (c) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Designated swim location.--The term ``designated swim location'' means a swimming area or swimming beach-- (A) on lands and waters managed by the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the Bureau of Reclamation; and (B) that is typically monitored by federally employed lifeguards during normal seasonal operating hours. (2) Staffing shortage.-- (A) In general.--The term ``staffing shortage'' means a level of staffing that negatively impacts the ability to adequately staff a designated swim location with federally employed lifeguards and will likely result or has resulted in a designated swim location being left unmonitored by federally employed lifeguards during normal seasonal operating hours. (B) Exclusion.--The term ``staffing shortage'' does not refer to short-term staffing shortages caused by temporary absences, such as an employee taking annual or sick leave. (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. <all>

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