Rep. Wasserman Schultz Commends Vote for Pool Safety

WASHINGTON – Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) conducted a vote to re-examine whether or not the definition of an unblockable drain should more accurately reflect the original intent of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. In April 2010, the CPSC determined that pools with a single main drain were not required to have secondary layers of protection, beyond an “unblockable” drain. Several of the original authors of the Act, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fl-20), felt strongly that the decision was not in line with the spirit and intent of the law. Over the course of the last year, the CPSC had the opportunity to hear from Members of Congress, safety advocates and drowning victims’ parents about the shortsightedness of their decision. After this review, the CPSC subsequently decided to reconsider their previous decision. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) released the following statement:

“I commend the Consumer Product Safety Commission for voting today to protect our children from swimming pool suction drain entrapment,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20). “The Commission’s action to revoke their previous decision regarding secondary layers of protection for public pools with a single main drain is a great step forward. It will help ensure the safety of our children when they are swimming, and is fully in line with our original intent.

“Under the Act, single drain pools are required to incorporate an additional layer of protection as they pose a much more significant danger than pools with multiple drains.  When a single drain is blocked, the suction force is much stronger than it is when distributed across multiple drains. I would like to specifically acknowledge Commissioner Adler’s prudent reconsideration in strengthening the current law’s guidance in order to better protect our children.”