In February U.S. Rep. Donald Davis (D-N.C.) and Del. James Moylan (R-Guam-at-large) reintroduced H.R. 1506, or the Safe Water Instruction for Minors (SWIM) Act. This bipartisan legislation is supported by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, a trade association representing the pool, hot tub, and spa industry, and is designed to enhance water safety by authorizing basic, lifesaving swim lessons as a qualified expense for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs, Section 223) and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs, Section 125).
The SWIM Act of 2025 is a landmark bill that 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. 1506, basic swim skills can be added as a qualified expense and allow the use of pre-tax dollars to prevent drowning accidents.
“The SWIM Act is a key step toward ensuring wider access to swim lessons for children throughout the nation,” 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. “Drowning incidents have increased over the past five years, particularly in underserved communities, but it has been proven that participating in swim lessons saves lives. Thank you to Rep. Steube and the SWIM Act co-sponsors for supporting water safety through this important, bipartisan piece of legislation.”
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.
“Learning to swim not only introduces young people to a recreational activity, but also teaches them an invaluable skillset that saves lives,” said Rep. Steube. “It’s commonsense that our tax laws are adjusted to permit HSAs and FSAs to fund water safety lesson expenses. Swimming is a vital life skill, and water safety lessons are demonstrated to significantly reduce drownings. By giving Americans more freedom to make decisions with their hard-earned money, Congress can protect America’s youth while reducing costs for working families.”
PHTA remains dedicated to collaborating with Congress to promote meaningful discussion on pool and water safety. To join the coalition, visit SwimAct.org and connect with drowning prevention organizations, swim schools, and PHTA member companies.
To learn more about PHTA, visit www.phta.org. To learn more about Step Into Swim, visit www.stepintoswim.org.