[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   INTRODUCTION OF PLAY EVERY DAY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation 
to help address the critical issue of childhood obesity which is caused 
by physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles.
  Nearly 15 percent of American children and teenagers are obese. One 
quarter of the children between the ages of 5 and 10 already show the 
early warning signs of heart disease. Cases of adult-onset diabetes in 
children--which used to be almost unheard of--have exploded tenfold in 
the last two decades.
  This is occurring as recess and physical education classes are being 
phased out of too many schools across the country. And too many 
communities lack adequate access to safe places and facilities for kids 
to play so the United States is being forced to confront an epidemic of 
childhood obesity.
  This is unacceptable and action needs to be taken. Congress, the Bush 
administration, and private enterprise along with the philanthropic 
groups and health organizations need to reinvest to ensure that our 
children are living healthy lives.
  Last Congress I wrote to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) 
to request a study about the relationship between areas such as public 
lands and public health. GAO was unable to provide such a study in part 
because there were no consistent or adequate data from which to draw a 
conclusion.
  To help better identify this relationship I am introducing companion 
legislation to S. 651 authored by Senator Harkin. I am pleased to be 
introducing this legislation with the support of Congresswoman Granger, 
Congressman Boswell, Congressman McIntyre and Congressman Cummings. The 
bill ``The PLAY Every Day Act,'' will help to advance national 
physical-activity benchmarks for children and adults alike. The 
legislation will specifically do two things.
  First, it will mandate the creation of a well-validated evaluation 
tool called the ``community play index.'' This index would be used to 
identify barriers which prevent people from being physically active in 
particular communities.
  Second, it will assist local coalitions to use this index as they 
craft plans to promote physical activity and wellness in their 
communities.
  While this bill is far from a comprehensive solution to the rise in 
childhood obesity it is an important step in the process. I urge the 
swift consideration of this legislation.

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