# 119-hres-1188: Expressing support for the work of open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency response providers.

119-hres-1188, Expressing support for the work of open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency response providers., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (R-NJ); status introduced (as of 2026-10-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-1188
- As of: 2026-10-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hres-1188
- Congress: 119
- Title: Expressing support for the work of open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency response providers.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-20
- Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (R-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 28
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-15

## Summary

**This resolution would reaffirm that open water lifeguards are first responders and emergency response providers** and officially recognize their essential, lifesaving role. It identifies four emergency duties for lifeguards: responding and attending to victims, treating victims, assisting victims, and transporting victims, notes that lifeguards protect life, property, evidence, and the environment, highlights cross-training in emergency medical response, marine fire safety, law enforcement, and rescue craft operations, and cites the 2021 deaths of two New Jersey lifeguards to underscore the risks they face.

## Cosponsors (28)

- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7] (R-NC), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] (D-CA), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2026-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2026-06-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-06-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2026-06-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2026-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] (R-NY), 2026-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2] (R-NY), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] (R-VA), 2026-07-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4] (D-NY), 2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2026-08-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2026-08-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14] (R-TX), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5] (R-FL), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2026-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16] (R-FL), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4382: America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-1065: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2048: Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act

## Sources
- [119-hres-1188 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/1188)

## Related
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-909)
- [119-hr-4382: America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4382)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-1065: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1065)
- [119-hr-2048: Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2048)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-1188 (as of 2026-10-15).