Michael Burgess: “I am going to rise in support today of H.R. 1721, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. During the…”

“I am going to rise in support today of H.R. 1721, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. During the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee markup, it occurred to me because of some things that had happened back in my district that there was an additional danger that was not being addressed in the hearings we had leading up to this legislation. So during the subcommittee process, I introduced an amendment that was inspired by the tragic accident that occurred in an ornamental pool back in my district back in Fort Worth, Texas. In June of 2004, three children and one adult drowned at the Fort Worth Water Gardens: Myron Dukes, age 39; his daughter, Lauren, age 8; his son, Christopher, 13; and a family friend, Juanitrice Deadmon, age 11. On that tragic day, one child accidentally fell into the ornamental pool and the other three jumped in trying to save the child. Compounding the tragedy, the water was unusually deep due to a recirculating pump malfunction and recent heavy rains.”