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President Bush Signs Into Law The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act of 2007 Three years of pool safety advocacy pays off for Safe Kids, Baker family in new, life-saving law In a move that Safe Kids USA believes will save the lives of thousands of children, President Bush today signed The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act of 2007. The legislation provides incentives for states to adopt comprehensive pool safety laws that will protect children from life-threatening injuries and horrible deaths from dangerous pool & spa drains. The law is named for the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, who joined Graeme's mother, Nancy Baker, and Safe Kids USA in a three-year advocacy campaign for the legislation. In 2002 at the age of 7, Graeme Baker died in a spa after the powerful suction of a drain entrapped her under water. “While the loss of our beloved Graeme will be with us always, our hearts have been lifted by the passage of this common-sense piece of legislation that will save lives,” James Baker said. “We are grateful to President Bush and the members of Congress who are making sure other children are protected from the kind of accident that took Graeme from us.” Nancy Baker agreed. "This legislation helps give meaning to the tragic circumstances that took her life and the lives of many other children,” Baker said. “It is a tribute to these children and their grieving families that this bill will prevent injuries and death as a result of drowning. Graeme would be honored that it is in her name."
Victory for children, parents, caregivers, and safety advocates Drowning remains the second leading killer of children under the age of 14. The law is the result of three years of work by Safe Kids USA, the Baker family, Congressional leaders, and dozens of other stakeholders. “Safe Kids USA and the children we work to protect from accidental injury and death owe a huge debt of gratitude to U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor and Ted Stevens, the original House and Senate sponsors of the bill,” said Alan Korn, public policy director of Safe Kids USA. “Their persistence and determination were key to moving the legislation, and will mean that many children's lives will be saved.” Korn also credited other members of Congress whose help was invaluable during the legislative process. These included U.S. Reps. Bobby Rush, Cliff Stearns, Frank Wolf, John Dingell, and Joe Barton, along with U.S. Sens. Christopher Dodd, Daniel Inouye, and Amy Klobuchar. “Their dedication and confidence in this small, simple piece of legislation will have huge impact in preventing the needless injuries and deaths of children,” Korn said. Thanks for Your Support |
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act Summary of Provisions (December 2007)
Tanya Chin Ross Diane Shinn | ||||||||||
Nancy Baker’s 
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