West Florida News

U.S. Representative Greg Steube has introduced the Safe Water Instruction for Minors (SWIM) Act, aiming to classify basic swimming lessons as a qualified expense under Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs). The initiative seeks to address preventable drownings by enabling families to use pre-tax dollars for water safety lessons.

Rep. Steube emphasized the importance of this measure, noting Florida's high rate of childhood drownings. "Every year, Floridians lose friends and loved ones to preventable drownings," he stated. He argued that swimming is an essential life skill that can reduce drowning incidents by 88%, advocating for tax law adjustments to facilitate funding for such lessons.

The legislation is co-led by Representatives James Moylan, Deborah Ross, and Don Davis. Rep. Ross highlighted her background as a swim instructor and lifeguard, stating: "Our bipartisan, common-sense bill will ensure that Americans can use the money they’ve allocated to HSAs and FSAs to afford water safety lessons."

Rep. Moylan expressed pride in reintroducing the legislation with his colleagues, underscoring Guam's unique understanding of swimming as a life-saving skill. Rep. Davis also supported expanding access to swimming lessons as crucial for preventing drownings.

Endorsements come from organizations like the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines stressed that learning to swim should not be exclusive: "By allowing parents to use HSA or FSA funds for swim lessons through the SWIM Act, we can significantly reduce drowning rates."

Currently, IRS guidelines do not recognize basic swimming lessons as eligible expenses under HSAs or FSAs due to their classification as general health exercise rather than a specific health necessity. The proposed legislation aims to change this categorization by defining qualified water competency expenses related directly to safety skills taught in various aquatic environments.

Research indicates around 4,000 fatal and 8,000 nonfatal drownings occur annually in the U.S., making drowning a leading cause of death among children aged one to four years old.