SWIM Act Sign-On Letter for PHTA Members

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RE: Support for the Safe Water Instruction for Minors (SWIM) Act - H.R. 9298

Dear Member of Congress,

As members of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), we write to express our strong support for H.R. 9298, the Safe Water Instruction for Minors (SWIM) Act. Our organization represents professionals in the pool, spa, and hot tub industry, and we are deeply committed to promoting water safety and preventing drowning incidents.

The SWIM Act is a crucial, bipartisan piece of legislation that can save countless lives by making basic swimming lessons an eligible expense under Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). As industry professionals who work closely with aquatic environments, we understand the critical importance of water safety skills.

Key points we urge you to consider:

1. Drowning Prevention: Approximately 4,000 fatal and 8,000 nonfatal drownings occur annually in the United States. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 1-4. Studies show that basic swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by an impressive 88%.
2. Economic and Public Health Benefits: By allowing families to use pre-tax dollars for swimming lessons, the SWIM Act can reduce the burden on public healthcare systems, decrease drowning-related medical costs, and potentially save thousands of lives each year.
3. Alignment with Existing Health Initiatives: Including basic swimming lessons as a qualified expense aligns with other health-related expenses currently covered by HSAs and FSAs, such as lead-based paint removal, smoking cessation programs, medications, and, for dependent care FSA account holders, nanny expenses.
4. Focused Approach: The SWIM Act narrowly expands FSA and HSA use to only basic water safety swimming instruction, explicitly excluding competitive swimming or training lessons.
5. Industry Support: As PHTA members, we are uniquely positioned to understand the importance of water safety skills. Our support for this bill underscores the industry's commitment to safety and responsible practices.

We strongly believe that this legislation will have a significant positive impact on public safety and health. It aligns perfectly with our industry's goals of promoting safe enjoyment of aquatic activities.

On behalf of the undersigned PHTA members, we urge you to support this important, lifesaving legislation. Thank you for your consideration and support.

Sincerely,

Supporters of the SWIM Act

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