Sponsor
Jennifer Kiggans
Representative · R-VA
Representative · R-VA
The bill improves swimmer safety and preserves access to federal swimming areas by authorizing and reimbursing local lifeguards during federal staffing shortfalls, at the cost of higher federal expenditures, added local administrative work, and potential disputes over reimbursements.
Parents, families, and children visiting federal parks and refuges will get continued lifeguard coverage at designated swim locations during federal staffing shortfalls, reducing drowning risk and improving swimmer safety.
Local governments that supply lifeguards will be reimbursed by the Interior Department for all reasonable lifeguard-related costs (including amended agreements), reducing the fiscal burden on local agencies providing emergency services on federal lands.
Visitors (urban and rural families and communities) retain access to swimming areas and recreation infrastructure during federal lifeguard shortages because local lifeguards can be authorized to staff seasonal hours.
Federal taxpayers may face higher costs because the Interior Department must reimburse local agencies for all reasonable lifeguard-related expenses, including costs from amended agreements.
Disputes over what counts as "reasonable costs" or whether a staffing shortage meets the definition could delay lifeguard coverage or reimbursement payments, harming families' safety and straining local agencies.
Local agencies will face additional administrative burden to negotiate, document, and certify new or amended agreements and costs to obtain reimbursements.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Interior Secretary to contract with local governments to provide reimbursed lifeguard coverage at designated swim sites on specified federal lands when federal staffing shortages would leave sites unmonitored.
Official title: To ensure continuity of staffing at Federal beaches, and for other purposes.
Introduced August 29, 2025 by Jennifer Kiggans · Last progress August 29, 2025
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to arrange agreements with one or more local government agencies to provide lifeguards at designated swim locations on lands and waters managed by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, or Bureau of Reclamation when a staffing shortage would likely leave a site unmonitored during normal seasonal hours. The agreements must allow local-government lifeguards to staff those locations, provide rescue and first aid, and must reimburse the local government for all reasonable costs; existing agreements must be amended as needed to ensure full reimbursement. Defines key terms, excludes short-term absences (like annual or sick leave) from "staffing shortage," and requires reimbursement for reasonable costs incurred by local governments under the agreements.