On July 19, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved, by voice vote, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (S. 1771). A House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee held a hearing on similar legislation (H.R. 1721) on June 6 (see The Source, 6/8/07). The bill is named after the 7-year-old granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker who died in June 2002 due to suction entrapment.
Sponsored by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), the measure would require pool and spa drain covers to meet uniform standards, establish minimum state law standards for pools and spas, and establish a $2 million grant program, administered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), to encourage states to pass comprehensive pool and spa safety legislation. The bill also would authorize an additional $5 million per year from FY2008-2012 for the CPSC to engage in a nationwide education campaign to prevent drowning and entrapment in pools and spas.
During consideration of S. 1771, the committee adopted, by voice vote:
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