Rep. Panetta Sponsors Congressional Resolution for the Federal Recognition of Open-Water Lifeguards as First Responders

August 3, 2026 Press Release Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) cosponsored a bipartisan resolution to reaffirm that open-water lifeguards qualify as first responders and emergency response providers, and recognize the essential, lifesaving work performed by these individuals. Rep. Panetta joined the resolution that is led by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). “In order to fulfill their duties, lifeguards, just like other first responders, can’t run away from danger, they must run into it,” said Rep. Panetta. “The world recently was able to witness one example of lifeguards’ gallant, lifesaving work, which can occur numerous times on a daily basis, when a bystander’s video captured 16-year-old Ryder Williams run into the rough waves in Santa Cruz, California with dogged determination to save a young boy from drowning. Due to their extensive and constant training, entering into dangerous waters, providing emergency medical care, professionalism, and putting their own lives on the line to protect others, open-water lifeguards live up not just to their name, but also deserve to be federally recognized as first responders.” The federal definition of a first responder “includes a firefighter, law enforcement officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or other individual … who, in the course of his or her professional duties, responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other similar emergencies.” Recognizing open-water lifeguards as first responders would help ensure they receive the recognition they deserve, while improving their access to benefits, workplace protections, federal training, grants, and other programs available to emergency response personnel. Open-water lifeguards conduct essential work and put their lives at risk to protect thousands of beachgoers from injury or life-threatening risks. These individuals can perform water rescues, emergency medical aid, marine fire response, law enforcement support, and rescue-vessel operations in changing surf and marine conditions. They attend to, treat, assist, and transport victims, performing four essential duties of emergency response employees. In 2024, beach agencies reporting to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) recorded more than 85,000 rescues, 444,000 medical assists, and 22.8 million preventive actions. California State Parks lifeguards alone perform more than 10,000 swimmer rescues and 1 million preventive actions annually, in addition to conducting swift-water, urban-flood, and technical-cliff rescues and carrying out law enforcement duties. At beaches protected by lifeguards affiliated with USLA, the estimated risk of drowning is less than one in 18 million. Full text of the resolution is available here .