Rep. Kiggans’ New Invoice Protects Swimmers on the Eastern Shore and Past

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) launched the Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act. This laws ensures that our federal seashores are totally staffed with lifeguards all through the summer time to maintain swimmers protected! 

Rep. Kiggans mentioned, “I’ve a district that lives on the seashore and the bay. Water security is a vital subject for the Eastern Shore, and because the consultant for Coastal Virginia, it’s my job to make sure my constituents and guests on our federal lands stay protected.

“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,” acknowledged 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 invoice right here. 

Read the one-pager right here. 

Read the letter right here. 

Watch Rep. Kiggans query Sec. Burgum here.

Watch Rep. Kiggans’ interview with CBS here.  

Read extra from Shore Daily News here.

Background

• Directs the Secretary of the Interior to find out when there are staffing shortages at federal seashores and work with native governments to make sure correct lifeguard protection.
• Empowers state and native governments to rent lifeguards at federal seashores in instances of a scarcity, and ensures they are going to be reimbursed by the federal authorities.
• Applies to seashores managed by the National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation.