[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 124 (Tuesday, October 5, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S10443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KENNEDY:
  S. 2894. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for 
the coordination of Federal Government policies and activities to 
prevent obesity in childhood, to provide for State childhood obesity 
prevention and control, and to establish grant programs to prevent 
childhood obesity within homes, schools, and communities; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it's an honor to introduce the 
``Prevention of Childhood Obesity Act''. The goal of this legislation 
is to deal more effectively with the growing health epidemic of obesity 
now faced by millions of children today. Currently, 9,000,000 children 
have this chronic condition, and it's putting them at high risk for 
diabetes, high blood pressure, and other preventable diseases. In 
addition, obese children frequently grow up to become obese adults, and 
they impose at least 11 billion dollars in medical costs on the nation 
each year.
  Childhood obesity is the direct result of too much food and too 
little physical activity. One of the results is the epidemic now 
plaguing the nation. Children watch over 40,000 food advertisements on 
television a year--one food commercial every minute, urging them to eat 
large helpings of candy, snacks, fast foods and cereal high in sugar.
  Young students have access to vending machines that now put high-fat 
or high-sugar snacks and beverages in them. Yet they have no 
opportunity for physical activity or instruction in physical education. 
They live in neighborhoods with instant access to fast foods, but no 
supermarket, no outdoor produce stand, or few fruits and vegetables. 
These same neighborhoods also have no bike paths, sidewalks, tracks for 
walking or running, and no parks or open spaces.
  The result is millions of children without nutritious foods, a safe 
physical environment, that allows them to be active, and healthy 
information. Today, only 2 percent of the nation's children meet 
Department of Agriculture standards for daily intake. Less than a third 
meet the recommended guidelines for exercise, and millions have 
developed obesity.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control, regular physical 
activity and healthy eating and a positive environment for such 
behavior are essential factors in reducing the epidemic of obesity. Our 
legislation focuses, therefore, on coordinating federal, state, 
community and school efforts to see that our children have access to a 
healthy environment.
  This bill appoints a federal commission to see that Federal food 
policies promote good nutrition. Guidelines for food and physical 
activity advertisements will be established by a summit conference of 
representatives from education, industry, and health care.
  At the State level, the bill provides grants and coordinates efforts 
by the states to implement and evaluate ways to prevent obesity. It 
offers grants for early childhood activities and school and after-
school programs, and for developing curricular, training educators, and 
implementing policies to reduce poor foods, increase physical 
education, and help communities build sidewalks, bike trails, and 
create parks that encourage healthy activity and sports.
  We know that regular physical activity and healthy eating can prevent 
childhood obesity. We need a coordinated and focused nationwide effort 
to halt this health epidemic facing millions of children, and prevent 
the chronic diseases and unnecessary suffering that afflict millions of 
children today. It's time for Congress to do its part, and I urge my 
colleagues to support us.
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