Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. W. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.) introduced H.R. 9298, a groundbreaking piece of legislation designed to enhance water safety by authorizing basic, lifesaving swim lessons as a qualified expense for Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Savings Accounts. The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub and spa industry announced its support of the Safe Water Instruction for Minors (SWIM) Act of 2024.
The landmark bill prioritizes drowning prevention and helps families proactively access lifesaving swim lessons. Both HSAs and FSAs can be used to save for qualified medical expenses, such as smoking cessation programs and medications. With the introduction of H.R. 9298, basic swim skills can be added as a qualified expense and allow the use of pretax dollars to prevent drowning accidents.
“Ensuring increased access to swim lessons and emphasizing drowning prevention efforts are essential measures to not only protect public health, but to empower families from all communities to stay safer around the water,” said three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA vice president of partnerships and development, who leads PHTA’s Step Into Swim drowning prevention initiative. “At a time when drownings are on the rise—affecting minority and low-income communities hardest—the SWIM Act bridges the financial gap by allowing parents to use HSA or FSA funds for swim lessons and helps foster a culture of water safety for generations to come.”
Drowning is the leading cause of death in children between the ages of 1 and 4 in the U.S., and nearly 90% of drownings in children under 5 happen at home. As learning to swim from a qualified instructor reduces the risk of drowning by 88% among this same age group, it is critical to equip families with the proper education and resources, including financial support through initiatives like the SWIM Act, to keep children safer around the water.
As a leader in the aquatics industry, PHTA has been strongly advocating for H.R. 9298 and is committed to working with congressional offices and SWIM Act supporters to elevate important conversations about pool and water safety.
“It’s commonsense that our tax laws are adjusted to permit Americans’ HSAs and FSAs to help fund water safety lesson expenses. Swimming is a vital life skill, and water safety lessons are proven to prevent drownings,” said Steube. “We should be looking at ways to give Americans better control over their hard-earned HSA and FSA funds. This legislation is one of the ways Congress can give Americans increased options in their spending, while providing a more affordable path to a vital life skill.”
PHTA continues to promote health and safety across the industry, with a focus on drowning prevention through its Step Into Swim initiative. Step Into Swim aims to create safer swimmers and provides learn-to-swim grants in underserved communities to further swim education. The grant program paired with the use of HSA or FSA funds means there are opportunities for families to lessen any financial burden placed on keeping their kids safe around the water.
To learn more about PHTA, visit www.phta.org. To learn more about Step Into Swim, visit www.stepintoswim.org.