[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          NATIONAL PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS FOUNDATION ACT

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, yesterday, I introduced S. 2394 to 
establish a National Physical and Sports Foundation. This proposal is 
designed to support the President's Council on Physical Fitness.
  The President's Council on Physical Fitness currently operates on a 
shoe-string budget of $1.4 million. The establishment of a nonprofit 
foundation would permit the Council to have an independent source of 
funding to expand its scope and activities. This proposal will not 
conflict with existing efforts to provide funding for the U.S. Olympic 
Committee as moneys that would flow through the corporation to the 
Council would not be public funds.
  Once established, the National Physical Fitness and Sports Foundation 
would be a charitable, nonprofit organization designed to ``encourage 
and promote'' the solicitation of private funds for the President's 
Council on Physical Fitness. After the deduction of administrative 
expenses, the foundation would annually transfer the balance of the 
contributions to the U.S. Public Health Service Gift Fund.
  The foundation would have the following specific powers:
  It could accept, receive, solicit, administer and use any gift, 
devise or bequest, absolutely or in trust.
  It could acquire by purchase or exchange any real or personal 
property or interest;
  It could enter into contracts or other arrangements with public 
agencies and private organizations and persons and to make such 
payments as may be necessary to carry out its functions.
  A nine-member Board of Directors would govern the foundation. Three 
Board members must have experience directly related to physical 
fitness, sports, or the relationship between health status and physical 
exercise. The remaining six Board members would be leaders in the 
private sector with a strong interest in physical fitness. Ex officio 
members of the Board would include the Assistant Secretary of Health, 
the Executive Director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness 
the Director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and 
Health Promotion, the Director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood 
Institute, and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control.
  Board members would serve for 6 years. Three Board members would be 
appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; two by the 
majority leader of the Senate; one by the minority leader of the 
Senate; two by the Speaker of the House; and one by the minority leader 
of the House of Representatives. The Chairman would be elected by the 
Board members to a 2-year term. No individual could serve more than two 
consecutive terms as a Director.
  Board members would serve without pay, but would be reimbursed for 
traveling and subsistence expenses. The Board would be empowered to 
appoint officers and employees, once the foundation had sufficient 
funding to pay for their services; and adopt a constitution and bylaws. 
Officers and employees of the foundation could not receive pay in 
excess of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for executive level V 
in the Federal service.
  I think that this bill will help further an important national goal--
encouraging and fostering physical fitness and well-being--and I urge 
my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. President, yesterday when I introduced this bill, I did not have 
a copy of Griffin Joyner and Tom McMillen, who serve as co-chairs of 
the President's Council and support this legislation. I ask unanimous 
consent that the letter be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the letter was orderd to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                        The President's Council on


                                  Physical Fitness and Sports,

                                  Washington, DC, August 12, 1994.
     Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell,
     U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Campbell: Thank you for the opportunity to 
     share our excitement about the important work of the 
     President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS).
       The leadership of the PCPFS would appreciate your support 
     of proposed legislation to form a national foundation that 
     would assist with the programmatic activities of our Council. 
     Its formation would require no federal dollars. The PCPFS 
     feels that Congressional backing of this important 
     legislation is essential.
       As all of us are currently discussing issues that involve 
     protecting and improving the health of every American, the 
     PCPFS continues to play a key role in this important 
     dialogue. We are the only federal office that is solely 
     devoted to programs involving physical activity, fitness and 
     sports. The support of every member of Congress will send a 
     powerful message indicating an understanding of how 
     significant the role fitness and sports play in the daily 
     lives of our youth, seniors, minorities and disabled. This is 
     a bipartisan message about lifestyle and personal 
     responsibility. Clearly with a budget of $1.4 million, the 
     Council needs assistance in touching and motivating our 
     country's most valuable asset: its citizens.
       The foundation, established in collaboration with the 
     Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), would be a 
     non-profit, private corporation. It would encourage the 
     participation by, and support of, private organizations in 
     the activities of the Council.
       Congressional support would add to the prestige of our 
     mission and the significance of our goals. As you may know, 
     Congress has also provided legislative authorization for the 
     Secretary of DHHS to create two foundations--one in support 
     of the National Institutes of Health and the other in support 
     of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
       We would appreciate your help with this important piece of 
     business.
     Florence Griffith Joyner.
     Tom McMillen.

  Mr. CAMPBELL. I yield the floor.
  Mr. DOLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The minority leader is recognized.

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