[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S6066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            GRUNDY CENTER RECEIVES PE4LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
people of Grundy Center, Iowa for their hard work and success in 
developing one of the Nation's best-all around physical education 
programs, in their schools and in the entire community. As a result of 
their leadership and dedication to physical fitness, Grundy Center has 
been selected to receive the PE4LIFE Community Achievement Award. In 
addition, the community will now serve other Iowans and the rest of the 
Nation as the second PE4LIFE Institute.
  This is a great achievement, thanks in large part to Beth Kirkpatrick 
and Rick Schupbach, who for 15 years have served this community and 
dedicated themselves to building an innovative physical education 
program. The PE4LIFE program effectively reaches and inspires every 
student, regardless of athletic ability or experience, to become 
physically active for a lifetime. It is the kind of inclusive approach 
that will make a difference in Iowa and throughout the country. The 
need for what Rick and Beth will do as codirectors of the new PE4LIFE 
Institute has never been greater.
  Obesity has become our Nation's fastest rising public health threat. 
The number of overweight and obese Americans has more than doubled in 
the last 30 years. The problem is especially serious for children; the 
number of overweight children is growing at a rate faster than the 
number of adults. If we don't do something to halt and reverse the 
trend, we will face a significant health care crisis. If we don't do 
something, our children, as they grow into adults, will face greater 
threats from diabetes, heart disease and other serious maladies related 
to being out of shape and overweight. It is now estimated that the 
annual cost of treating obesity related diseases is over $100 billion 
per year.
  Unfortunately, the solution is getting away from us. Physical 
education in our Nation's schools has declined. In 1991, only 42 
percent of our Nation's students had daily physical education. Today 
that number is around 29 percent.
  Physical education and daily physical activity go a long way to 
improving the overall health of our children. We need to improve on 
cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, flexibility, help with 
weight regulation, bone development and posture. Teaching active 
lifestyle habits to children will go a long way to helping our children 
grow up to be active and healthy adults. An active lifestyle also 
promotes the constructive use of leisure time. Improving physical 
education in our schools is a sure way to influence these behavior 
patterns in our children.
  Our kids are not in shape. They spend too much time in front of the 
TV, playing video games or working on their computers. The best way to 
get them back on their feet is to improve the physical education they 
receive while they are in school. Programs like the new PE4LIFE 
Institute in Grundy Center are critically important to tackling this 
problem.
  Before he was inaugurated, President-elect John F. Kennedy wrote an 
article for Sports Illustrated entitled, ``The Soft American.'' He 
wrote:

       For physical fitness is not only one of the most important 
     keys to a healthy body: it is the basis of dynamic and 
     creative intellectual activity. The relationship between the 
     soundness of the body and the activities of the mind is 
     subtle and complex. Much is not yet understood. But we do 
     know what the Greeks know: that intelligence and skill can 
     only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is 
     healthy and strong: that hardy spirits and tough minds 
     usually inhabit sound bodies.

  President Kennedy would have been impressed by the people of Grundy 
Center. We are proud of their accomplishments, and we look forward to 
working with them in the future as they help Iowa and the rest of the 
Nation become more physically fit.

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