110 HR 7179 IH: National Obesity Prevention Act of U.S. House of Representatives 2008-09-27 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7179 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 27, 2008 Mr. Towns (for himself and Mr. Shays) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide coordinated leadership in Federal efforts to prevent and reduce obesity and to promote sound health and nutrition among Americans, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Obesity Prevention Act of 2008.

2.

Federal task force on obesity; Advisory committee on obesity

Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

399S.

Obesity initiatives

(a)

Office of the National Coordinator of Obesity Initiatives

(1)

Establishment

There is established within the office of the Secretary the Office of the National Coordinator of Obesity Initiatives, to be headed by the National Coordinator of Obesity Initiatives. The National Coordinator shall be appointed by the Secretary and shall report directly to the Secretary. (2)

Duties

The duties of the National Coordinator of Obesity Initiatives shall include implementing and coordinating a national strategy to eliminate the occurrence of obesity in the United States. (b)

Federal Task Force on Obesity

(1)

Establishment

The Secretary shall convene a Task Force on Obesity (referred to in this section as the Task Force) to— (A)establish a governmentwide strategy for preventing and reducing the rate of occurrence of obesity that includes defining clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability for all agencies of the Federal Government and determining what resources are necessary for preventing and reducing such rate of occurrence; (B)coordinate effective interagency actions and priorities for action among Federal agencies, including short-term and long-term goals for childhood and adult obesity rates; and (C)implement and evaluate the effectiveness of such strategy. (2)

Membership

(A)

In general

The Task Force shall be composed of— (i)the Secretary (or his or her designee) of— (I)the Department of Health and Human Services; (II)the Department of Agriculture; (III)the Department of Education; (IV)the Federal Trade Commission; (V)the Department of Transportation; (VI)the Department of Defense; (VII)the Department of Veterans Affairs; (VIII)the Department of Interior; (IX)the Department of Labor; (X)the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (XI)any other Federal agency that the chairperson determines appropriate; (ii)the Chairman (or his or her designee) of the Federal Communications Commission; and (iii)the National Coordinator of Obesity Initiatives. (B)

Chairperson

The chairperson of the Task Force shall be the National Coordinator of Obesity Initiatives. (3)

Meetings

The Task Force shall meet at the call of the chairperson. (4)

Report

Not later than January 1, 2010, and on an annual basis thereafter through January 1, 2015, the Task Force shall submit to the President and to the relevant committees of Congress, a report that— (A)describes the activities and efforts to prevent and reduce the rate of occurrence of obesity conducted by the Task Force during the year to which the report relates; and (B)evaluates the effectiveness of such activities and efforts to prevent and reduce the rate of occurrence of obesity. (c)

Advisory Committee on Obesity

(1)

Establishment

The Secretary may establish an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Obesity to provide recommendations to the Task Force for purposes of establishing the governmentwide strategy under subsection (a)(1). (2)

Membership

(A)

In general

In the case the Secretary established the Advisory Committee on Obesity, such committee shall be composed of 7 members, to be appointed by the Secretary, of whom there shall be one representative from each of the following communities: (i)State and local governments. (ii)Schools. (iii)Community and religious groups. (iv)The business community, including the food and beverage industry and farmers. (v)Insurance companies. (vi)Researchers and scientists. (B)

Terms

The members of the Advisory Committee shall serve for such term as the Secretary may specify. (C)

Chairperson

The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee shall be the National Coordinator of Obesity Initiatives. (3)

Meetings

The Advisory Committee shall meet once per year and at such other times as the Advisory Committee may provide. (4)

Advisory panels

Each member of the Advisory Committee may consult with an advisory panel composed of persons from the community of such member, with respect to recommendations for a national strategy to combat obesity. (d)

Obesity defined

For purposes of this section, the term obesity shall have the meaning given such term by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

.

3.

Federal agency reviews to combat obesity

(a)

Reviews and reports by Federal agencies required

(1)

Reviews

Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act and on an annual basis thereafter, the head of each Federal agency shall conduct a review of the programs and budgets of such agency to determine how such programs and budgets impact physical activity, nutrition, and the rate of occurrence of obesity (as defined in section 399S(c) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2) among people in the United States. Based on the findings of each such review of a Federal agency, the head of such agency shall determine ways in which the agency should adopt aspects of the governmentwide strategy established under section 399S(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2, and implement such aspects as appropriate. (2)

Reports

Not later than 12 months after the date of the completion of a review under paragraph (1) by a Federal agency, the head of the agency shall submit to Congress a report on the results of such review, including any aspects of the governmentwide strategy described in such paragraph that are determined should be adopted by the agency and any such aspects that have been implemented by the agency since the previous review conducted by the agency under this subsection. (b)

GAO report

Not later than 12 months and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report that contains the results of a review conducted by the Comptroller General of the programs and budgets of each Federal agency to determine how such programs and budgets impact physical activity, nutrition, and the rate of occurrence of obesity (as so defined) among people in the United States.