[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 199 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 199

Designating the last week of April of each calendar year as ``National 
                         Youth Fitness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 24, 1998

 Mr. Torricelli submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the last week of April of each calendar year as ``National 
                         Youth Fitness Week''.

Whereas we are witnessing a historic decrease in the health of our Nation's 
        adolescents with only 22 percent of our children physically active for 
        the recommended 30 minutes each day and nearly 15 percent of American 
        youths almost completely inactive;
Whereas even physical education classes are on the decline with 75 percent of 
        students in America not attending daily physical education classes and 
        25 percent of students not participating in any form of physical 
        education in schools, which is a decrease in participation of almost 20 
        percent in just 4 years;
Whereas more than 60,000,000 people, \1/3\ of the Nation's population, are 
        overweight and even more disturbing, the percentage of overweight 
        adolescents has doubled in the last 30 years;
Whereas these serious trends have resulted in a decrease in the self-esteem of, 
        and an increase in the risk of future health problems for, our Nation's 
        adolescents;
Whereas adolescents represent the future of the Nation and the decrease in 
        physical fitness in the United States may destroy our future potential 
        unless we invest in our youthful population today to increase our 
        productivity and stability tomorrow;
Whereas regular physical activity has proven effective in fighting depression, 
        anxiety, premature death, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, 
        colon cancer, and a variety of weight problems;
Whereas physical fitness campaigns help encourage consideration of the mental 
        and physical health of our Nation's youth; and
Whereas Congress should take steps to reverse a trend which, if not resolved, 
        could destroy future opportunities for millions of today's youth because 
        a healthy child makes a healthy, happy, and productive adult: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week beginning with the last Sunday in 
        April of each calendar year as ``National Youth Fitness Week'';
            (2) urges parents, families, caregivers, and teachers to 
        encourage and help adolescents to participate in athletic 
        activities and to teach adolescents to engage in healthy 
        lifestyles; and
            (3) requests the President to issue a proclamation each 
        calendar year designating such week as ``National Youth Fitness 
        Week'' and encouraging the people of the United States to 
        observe this week with appropriate activities and celebrations.
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