HONORING THE MEMORY OF ALEX QUANBECK AND RECOGNIZING GATE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH

On 2026-10-05, Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-2) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE MEMORY OF ALEX QUANBECK AND RECOGNIZING GATE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH" in the House.

HONORING THE MEMORY OF ALEX QUANBECK AND RECOGNIZING GATE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 157 (Monday, October 5, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 157 (Monday, October 5, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1020-E1021] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE MEMORY OF ALEX QUANBECK AND RECOGNIZING GATE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH ______ HON. JARED HUFFMAN of california in the house of representatives Monday, October 5, 2026 Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gate Safety Awareness Month and to honor the memory of my constituent, Alex Quanbeck. In 2019, Alex was just seven years old when a nearly 400-pound gate at his school fell on him during recess and took his life. It was a devastating tragedy for his family and our community--and one that should never have happened. Alex's death could have been prevented by a simple safety feature that would have kept the gate from falling. What makes this tragedy especially heartbreaking is that the very gates we rely on to protect our children and communities can pose serious risks when they are poorly designed, damaged, or not properly maintained. Most people never think twice about a gate. We expect it to be safe. We should be able to. I never had the opportunity to know Alex, but I have come to know his parents, Eric and Dayna Quanbeck, and I have watched them turn unimaginable grief into a determination to protect other families. Through their organization, Ready, Set, Safe!, they have worked tirelessly to raise awareness and improve gate safety standards so that no other parent has to receive the phone call they received. Their work is making a difference. Over the past several years, the Quanbecks have worked with the American Fence Association, the International Code Council, engineers, manufacturers, building officials, and other safety professionals to develop practical, consensus-based improvements to gate safety. That work has now led to important new [[Page E1021]] provisions being approved for the 2027 International Codes, strengthening requirements for manual sliding and swing gates, and improving safety and maintenance requirements for existing gates. This is exactly the kind of progress we should be pursuing: identifying a preventable hazard, listening to the families who have experienced it firsthand, bringing together the people who understand the technology and standards, and putting practical solutions in place. I want to recognize the American Fence Association and its members for their leadership and commitment to improving gate safety. I also want to thank ASTM International, the International Code Council, and the many engineers, manufacturers, installers, code officials, and safety professionals who worked through an open and consensus-based process to turn the lessons of Alex's death into stronger safety standards. As we recognize Gate Safety Awareness Month, I also want to recognize the Consumer Product Safety Commission for its efforts to raise awareness about gate hazards and encourage consumers, property owners, and installers to follow established safety practices. There is still more work to do. When a simple, affordable safety measure can mean the difference between life and death, we should do everything we can to make sure that protection is available. We should continue raising awareness, improving safety practices, and working with industry and safety professionals to prevent these tragedies before they happen. Alex should be remembered not only for the terrible circumstances of his death, but for the change his family has fought to bring about in his memory. We cannot undo what happened to Alex. But we can learn from it. We can make our schools, parks, workplaces, homes, and public spaces safer. And we can help make sure that another family does not have to endure this kind of preventable loss. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Alex Quanbeck, recognizing the extraordinary advocacy of Eric and Dayna Quanbeck and Ready, Set, Safe!, and thanking the many professionals and organizations working to make gate safety a national priority. Alex's legacy can be a safer future for other children and families. That is a legacy worth fighting for. ____________________