MinnPost

Thu, May 21 2009

http://www.minnpost.com/cynthiadizikes/2009/05/21/9008/klobuchar_meets_with_abigail_taylor%E2%80%99s_family

By Cynthia Dizikes

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar appeared outside the Capitol today with the family of Abigail Taylor, the young Minnesota girl who died last year from devastating injuries sustained from a wading pool drain, to discuss the new federal pool-safety law that will be implemented this summer.

Klobuchar, who sponsored the bill in the Senate in 2007, recalled that “my proudest moment that I have had so far was calling Abigail’s parents from the cloakroom to tell them that it had passed and the president would be signing it into law.”

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Act, which was introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., in the House, established new protection guidelines to help prevent childhood drownings. In the Senate, Klobuchar added regulations that made it mandatory for public pools to use “anti-entrapment” drains.

The law took effect in December 2008. This will be the first summer that pools must comply with the new regulations.

Go here to read more about Abigail and the work that her parents are doing to draw attention to pool safety.