Washington, D.C. recently welcomed a wave of passionate voices from the pool, spa, and hot tub industry as the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) hosted its third annual Day on the Hill. Among the key industry leaders advocating for change was Greg Claffey, president and chief revenue officer of Pentair Pool, who shares his firsthand experience with the event and why it’s crucial for the industry’s future.
A Unified Voice for the Industry
The PHTA’s Day on the Hill is more than just an annual meeting — it's a powerful demonstration of industry unity and advocacy.
This year, PHTA members connected with more than 70 Congressional offices to discuss and champion pressing issues related to the pool and spa industry. Claffey, as an advocate for innovation and growth in the industry, emphasizes the importance of these conversations. “It’s important for an industry leader like Pentair to do our part to carry out the PHTA mission of educate, advocate, and elevate in support of the pool industry.”
In this gathering, special emphasis was placed upon championing the SWIM Act. SWIM is an acronym for Safe Water Instruction for Minors, and it is a proposed U.S. bill aimed at improving water safety and reducing drowning incidents. It seeks to make basic swimming lessons an eligible expense under Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), allowing families to use pre-tax dollars for swim instruction.
Strengthening Water Safety Efforts
One of the cornerstone discussions during the event was centered on water safety, an essential area of education for the pool industry and a very personal mission for Pentair Pool.
For Claffey and others at Pentair Pool, safety isn’t just a regulation — it’s a responsibility. At the event, he highlighted how pool manufacturers and service professionals can take proactive steps to support safety initiatives. He added that Congressional offices were receptive to the industry initiative, stating, “The focus on generating interest and support for the SWIM Act from both House and Senate leaders was perfectly timed, as May is Water Safety Month. It was also great to see representatives from across the industry — manufacturers, dealers, distributors, servicers, consultants, engineers — all coming together as one to support this great industry of ours. I left feeling grateful to be part of it.”
Moving Forward Together
As the industry continues to navigate policy changes and market shifts, the annual PHTA Day on the Hill serves as a critical moment for companies like Pentair Pool to engage with legislators and shape the future of pool and spa businesses.
For Pentair Pool, advocacy is also deeply rooted in community. In 2024, Pentair and the Pentair Foundation donated $350,000 to organizations promoting swim safety and making aquatics activities more accessible for all. As the Official Swimming Sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games and a Diamond Level Sponsor of Step Into Swim, a program that improves water safety by helping kids across the country learn to swim, we help bring poolside enjoyment to life. Plus, Pentair Foundation nonprofit partner V3 Sports provided more than 2,250 hours of free and reduced cost swim lessons in their first six months of operation at their new swim center in Minneapolis, Minn. These partnerships unite Pentair Pool’s purpose of creating a better world for people and the planet through smart, sustainable pool solutions with missions of inclusion, empowerment, and safety.
With events like PHTA’s Day on the Hill, the industry’s voice is stronger than ever, ensuring that the pool, spa, and hot tub sector remains a vibrant and thriving part of the national economy for years to come. Pentair Pool is proud to champion and be a part of these efforts.
