[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 24 (Monday, March 1, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. NELSON of Florida:
  S. 2150. A bill to promote better health for young people through 
Federal matching awards for physical education programs of excellence, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, as we have all heard, childhood 
obesity has reached epidemic proportions in our country. 30 percent of 
children between the ages of 6 and 11 are overweight, and 15 percent 
are obese. The same is true for kids between the ages of 12 and 19. And 
the number of overweight children has increased 382 percent in 6-11 
year olds and 258 percent in 12-19 years old since 1974.
  According to a 2001 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle are estimated to cause 
310,000 to 580,000 deaths a year due to cancer, heart disease, stroke, 
and diabetes. Obesity is second only to the 418,000 smoking-related 
fatalities as the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United 
States.
  And unfortunately, this obesity epidemic hits our country at the same 
time that state governments are cash-strapped and education programs 
are being cut. In my State of Florida, that means that physical 
education programs, among other programs, are discarded as non-
essential. Specifically, in Duval County, where Jacksonville is, 29 
elementary schools have no formal physical education programs. Five 
years ago, there were just five schools with no programs.
  To stem this horrible trend, I'm introducing legislation to encourage 
State, school districts and schools to provide physical fitness 
programs in their schools. Through the President's Council on National 
Fitness those schools that receive recognition either as Physical 
Fitness State Champions, Active Lifestyle Model Schools or Physical 
Activity and Fitness Demonstration Programs, will be eligible for 
Federal matching funds. This will encourage other schools and other 
school districts to strive for these distinctions because the Federal 
Government will reward them for their efforts.
  It is imperative that we continue to provide our children physical 
well-being instruction so that our teachers are teaching alert and fit 
students each day.
  Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a wonderful elementary 
school in Duval County named the Alimacani Elementary School. The 
physical education instructor, Jan Tipton, showed me their facilities 
and they were marvelous. I even rolled up my sleeves and did some pull-
ups.
  The enthusiasm I encountered in that school for physical education 
was amazing. All of our young people should be given the opportunity to 
build strong minds and bodies at school through regular physical 
activity.
  For these reasons, I hope that my colleagues will support passage of 
this legislation this Congress.
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