HRES1188Referred to Committee

Expressing support for the work of open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency response providers.

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-04-20
Introduced
16
Cosponsors
HRES
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Christopher H. Smith
Christopher H. Smith
Republican · NJ · Representative
Votes with party: 96.0% (602 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/S000522

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (16)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

2026-04-20

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

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Plain-English Summary

This resolution recognizes open water lifeguards—those who work at beaches, lakes, and other natural water areas—as first responders and emergency personnel, similar to firefighters and paramedics. The measure acknowledges the critical role these lifeguards play in water rescue, emergency response, and public safety in aquatic environments. While it's a symbolic statement rather than a law that creates new requirements, it aims to raise awareness of lifeguards' contributions to community safety and emergency response.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Subjects

Labor and Employment

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H. Res. 1188 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1188 Expressing support for the work of open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency response providers. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 20, 2026 Mr. Smith of New Jersey submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION Expressing support for the work of open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency response providers. Whereas open water lifeguards perform an essential function of protecting countless lives from death or serious injury; Whereas these lifeguards do so at great risk to their own lives; Whereas, in 2021, two lifeguards in the State of New Jersey lost their lives while performing their duty; Whereas many open water lifeguards are cross-trained in emergency medical response, marine fire safety, law enforcement, and water rescue craft operations; Whereas lifeguards respond and attend to victims, treat victims, assist victims, and transport victims, the 4 defined duties of a emergency response employee; Whereas lifeguards not only protect life, but also property, evidence, and the environment, the 4 tenets which define a first responder; Whereas many other countries recognize lifeguards as emergency responders, and grant them access to the programs to which first responders are entitled; and Whereas during the COVID-19 emergency, open water lifeguards ought to have been considered ``essential workers'' and given priority access to vaccinations: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That Congress reaffirms that open water lifeguards qualify as first responders and emergency response providers, and recognizes the essential, lifesaving work performed by these brave individuals. <all>
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