Debbie Wasserman Schultz: “I rise in support of H.R. 1721, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. I want to particularly thank Chairman…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1721, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. I want to particularly thank Chairman Bobby Rush, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, and Chairman John Dingell of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for their incredible leadership and support on this legislation. Additionally, I would like to thank Ranking Member Barton, Congressman Wolf and Congressman Ramstad for their steadfast support of this legislation, as well as Ranking Member Stearns, my fellow Floridian. I also want to thank Safe Kids Worldwide for always being such a wonderful resource as this legislation became a reality. On June 15, 2002, the beautiful Graeme Baker, whose picture is in front of me, attended a pool party with her entire family; her mother, Nancy, and her four sisters. Everyone was having a great time swimming, when all of a sudden one of Nancy's daughters came running to tell her that Graeme was in the spa. Nancy ran to the edge of the spa, and all she saw was dark and bubbling water. Her daughter, frantically crying and pointing into the tub, insisted that Graeme was there. Nancy jumped into the spa and saw Graeme with her eyes pinched closed, her hair and limbs moving, with the current of water from all the jets on the side. Graeme was entrapped by the powerful suction of the drain spa and could not free herself. Nancy pulled and pulled with all her strength to help her daughter.…”