Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers: Rep. Kiggans’ New Bill Protects Swimmers on the Eastern Shore and Beyond

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) introduced the Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act. This legislation ensures that our federal beaches are fully staffed with lifeguards throughout the summer to keep swimmers safe!

Rep. Kiggans said, "I have a district that lives on the beach and the bay. Water safety is an essential issue for the Eastern Shore, and as the representative for Coastal Virginia, it's my job to ensure my constituents and visitors on our federal lands remain safe.

"That's why I was dismayed to hear that after a federal hiring freeze, Assateague Island National Seashore reported being unable to hire or pay for lifeguards at their federal beaches in Maryland and Chincoteague, Virginia-putting public safety at risk."

"When Interior Secretary Doug Burgum came before my committee, I asked if there would be exemptions for temporary workers like lifeguards, and he assured me there would be. Yet this was not the reality on the beach. Until a deal was made between the Town of Chincoteague, Accomack County, and the National Park Service, there were no lifeguards on duty. We must ensure this isn't a problem going forward. We cannot put families visiting these beaches at risk," stated Rep. Kiggans.

She concluded, "To fix this problem once and for all, I am introducing the Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act. This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to work with local governments to ensure there is proper lifeguard coverage in the event of a lifeguard shortage. Chincoteague's beaches are a cherished part of our community, and keeping the families who visit them safe must be a priority."

Read the bill here.

Read the one-pager here.

Read the letter here.

Watch Rep. Kiggans question Sec. Burgum here.

Watch Rep. Kiggans' interview with CBS here.

Read more from Shore Daily News here.

Background

• Directs the Secretary of the Interior to determine when there are staffing shortages at federal beaches and work with local governments to ensure proper lifeguard coverage.
• Empowers state and local governments to hire lifeguards at federal beaches in times of a shortage, and ensures they will be reimbursed by the federal government.
• Applies to beaches managed by the National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation.