III 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 133 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 6, 2009 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Thune) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating May 1 through May 7, 2009, as National Physical Education and Sport Week.

Whereas childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States; Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that, by 2010, 20 percent of children in the United States will be obese; Whereas a decline in physical activity has contributed to the unprecedented epidemic of childhood obesity; Whereas regular physical activity is necessary to support normal and healthy growth in children; Whereas overweight adolescents have a 70 to 80 percent chance of becoming overweight adults, increasing their risk for chronic disease, disability, and death; Whereas Type II diabetes can no longer be referred to as late in life or adult onset diabetes because it occurs in children as young as 10 years old; Whereas the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that children engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week; Whereas children spend many of their waking hours at school and therefore need to be active during the school day to meet the recommendations of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans; Whereas teaching children about physical education and sports not only ensures that they are physically active during the school day, but also educates them on how to be physically active and its importance; Whereas only 3.8 percent of elementary schools, 7.9 percent of middle schools, and 2.1 percent of high schools provide daily physical education or its equivalent for the entire school year, and 22 percent of schools do not require students to take any physical education at all; Whereas research shows that fit and active children are more likely to thrive academically; Whereas participation in sports and physical activity improves self-esteem and body image in children and adults; Whereas the social and environmental factors affecting children are in the control of the adults and the communities in which they live, and therefore this Nation shares a collective responsibility in reversing the childhood obesity trend; and Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to increase physical activity and participation of youth in sports: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)designates the week of May 1 through May 7, 2009, as National Physical Education and Sport Week; (2)recognizes National Physical Education and Sport Week and the central role of physical education and sports in creating a healthy lifestyle for all children and youth; (3)calls on school districts to implement local wellness policies as defined by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 that include ambitious goals for physical education, physical activity, and other activities addressing the childhood obesity epidemic and promoting child wellness; and (4)encourages schools to offer physical education classes to students and work with community partners to provide opportunities and safe spaces for physical activities before and after school and during the summer months for all children and youth.