Supporting the designation of a "National Learn to Swim Week" beginning on the 4th Sunday in June.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1392 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1392

    Supporting the designation of a ``National Learn to Swim Week'' 
                  beginning on the 4th Sunday in June.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 2026

    Mr. Norcross (for himself, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Norton, Ms. Wasserman 
  Schultz, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, and Mr. 
Keating) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
    Supporting the designation of a ``National Learn to Swim Week'' 
                  beginning on the 4th Sunday in June.

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
        drowning remains the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4, 
        is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death among children 
        ages 5 to 14 in the United States, and is in the top 10 leading causes 
        of unintentional injury death across all age groups;
Whereas CDC data indicate that in recent years, an estimated 4,000 fatal 
        unintentional drownings occur annually in the United States, including 
        boating-related incidents, equivalent to 11 deaths per day;
Whereas an additional 8,000 nonfatal drownings occur each year, often resulting 
        in long-term neurological and cognitive disabilities;
Whereas a study supported by the National Institutes of Health found that formal 
        swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among young children by 
        88 percent;
Whereas it is important to practice additional water safety precautions to help 
        prevent drowning, such as--

    (1) close and active supervision;

    (2) preventing unsupervised access to water, including four-sided 
isolation fencing that fully encloses pool areas;

    (3) ensuring that children, inexperienced swimmers, and all boaters 
wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets; and

    (4) swimming in lifeguarded areas;

Whereas lack of access to designated swimming areas, lack of available swim and 
        water safety lessons, financial constraints, and limited instruction 
        tailored to cultural and logistical needs contribute to disproportionate 
        drowning risks among underserved communities;
Whereas the USA Swimming Foundation reports that 64 percent of African-American 
        children, 45 percent of Hispanic and Latino children, and 40 percent of 
        White children lack basic swimming skills, and if a parent does not know 
        how to swim, there is only a 19-percent chance that a child in their 
        household will learn to swim, which underscores the urgent need for 
        expanded access to lessons for people of all ages;
Whereas learning to swim not only reduces the risk of drownings but also 
        promotes physical health, self-confidence, and inclusion in recreational 
        and competitive aquatic activities for a lifetime; and
Whereas learning to swim is not just a life skill but a lifesaving skill: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the House of Representatives supports the designation 
        of a ``National Learn to Swim Week'' to raise awareness of 
        water safety and to encourage families and communities to take 
        action; and
            (2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
                    (A) learning to swim is a lifesaving skill that 
                helps reduce the risk of drowning, and every child and 
                adult in the United States should have the opportunity 
                to learn;
                    (B) Federal, State, and local governments should 
                promote and support access to swimming lessons, 
                including through public funding, education 
                initiatives, and partnerships with community-based 
                organizations;
                    (C) schools and youth-serving organizations should 
                be encouraged to integrate water safety education into 
                their curricula and extracurricular programs;
                    (D) Congress should support a national effort to 
                reduce drowning deaths by supporting the United States 
                National Water Safety Action Plan, whose mission is to 
                prevent drowning in the United States through evidence-
                informed action; and
                    (E) Congress should support a national effort to 
                reduce drowning deaths, through tracking of fatal and 
                nonfatal drowning, expanded lifesaving swim 
                instructions, public awareness campaigns, and 
                infrastructure investment.
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