(CNSNews.com) – Three bereaved mothers have been walking the halls of Congress and lobbying lawmakers with the hope that their children did not die in vain, and that other parents will never have to experience the devastation of losing a child as they did.

Nancy Midlock’s 8-year-old son, Brent, died in 2003 when he was sucked into a drainage pipe in a swimming pool at a Mexican resort.

Maureen Webster’s son, Nolan, died in 2007 on a trip to Mexico that his parents had given him as a college graduation present. After other hotel guests pulled Nolan, unconscious, from a swimming pool, witnesses said there were no lifeguards, nor did any of the hotel staff at the scene know CPR. The resort doctor refused to treat Nolan and it took 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.

Inez Franklin’s son, Davon, died on Mar. 14, 2010 on a Mexican beach in Cancun after being pulled from the ocean, and his companions sought help from people who demanded cash for transporting him to the hospital.

Nolan Webster (r) and his brother Ryan Webster.

Now, these mothers hope legislation introduced this month in the House of Representatives will help them bring some small amount of closure to their personal tragedies.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the International Travelers Bill of Rights Act of 2011, or H.R. 1120, on Mar. 16. A similar bill was introduced in the last session of Congress but did not get out of committee.

These mothers say they are confident that this time around the bill will become law.

“I need something good to come from my son’s death,” Webster said.

“There’s a hole in you and you just don’t want anyone else to experience that, and so it motivates you to try to make a difference in the world in memory of my son,” Nancy Midlock said.

The purpose of the legislation is to help protect Americans traveling abroad by requiring Web sites that market international travel services to provide consumers with information regarding health and safety conditions at destinations advertised on the site, according to a statement released by Markey’s office on Friday.

Specifically, the legislation requires travel service Web sites to provide their customers with health- and safety-related information, such as when medical personnel are available at the resort.

Destinations with swimming areas would have to provide consumers with specific safety-related information, such as whether lifeguards are present and what medical training and equipment are available. The bill would also require Web sites to clearly display any travel warnings and travel alerts issued by the U.S. State Department about that destination.

Davon Franklin.

If any of this information is not posted on the Web site, a notice must appear on the site to inform visitors that certain health and safety information is not available and therefore travel to those destinations may pose an increased risk to health or safety.

“The International Travelers Bill of Rights Act will ensure that Americans booking travel online are provided the latest in health and safety information so they understand not just the rewards of a foreign visit, but also the possible risks,” Markey said in the statement. “Information about a destination's health and safety is the most important item to pack for international travelers.

“Travelers have a right to be provided with the best and most current information so that they can make smart, informed decisions, including whether to book the trip in the absence of such information,” Markey said.

“Sometimes, as Americans, we take for granted that health and safety standards abroad are equal to our own,” said bill co-sponsor Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.). “Unfortunately that can be a tragic mistake. This bill would provide Americans vital information to make informed decisions on their travel plans.”

Midlock and Nolan told CNSNews.com that the tragic death of Davon Franklin, who was a senior at Howard University, brought new impetus to their ongoing efforts to honor their own sons’ deaths.

It also inspired one of Davon’s friends and fellow Howard University alumnus Cory Scott to organize the working group that is fighting for the bill in Congress. Scott is working with the three moms to advance the bill in the House and have a companion bill introduced in the Senate.

Brent Midlock

Nolan, Webster, and Scott spent much of last week visiting other lawmakers from Illinois, Massachusetts and Maryland, where the Franklins live, to gain bi-partisan support for the legislation.

“I sit here with three mothers who don’t have their sons,” Scott said. “And I committed to them that I’m going to get this bill passed.”

“And I believe him from the bottom of my heart,” Webster said.

The bill has been referred to committee.