[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 74 (Monday, May 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4521-H4523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS WEEK
Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 371) in observance of National Physical
Education and Sports Week.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 371
Whereas May 1 through 7, 2007, is observed as National
Physical Education and Sports Week;
Whereas physical inactivity of both youth and adults is a
major health risk factor in this country today;
Whereas the percentage of overweight young people has more
than tripled since 1980;
Whereas nationally, 1 out of 4 children does not attend any
school physical education classes and fewer than 1 in 4
children get 20 minutes of vigorous activity every day;
Whereas physical activity is necessary to support the
normal growth in children, and is essential to the continuing
health and well-being of youth and adults;
Whereas children and youth with low fitness levels tend to
have low fitness levels during adulthood and healthy weight
management programs suggest that approximately 300 minutes of
exercise are required per week for an adult to maintain his
or her weight over the course of a single year;
Whereas low-income high risk communities have the highest
obesity rates due to factors including lack of access to
healthful foods, a lack of safe, available venues for
physical activity, and a lack of education about proper
nutrition and the benefits of physical activity;
Whereas minority children are at greatest risk for obesity,
especially African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians,
and Asians/Pacific Islanders living in low-income
communities;
Whereas physical activity reduces the risks of heart
disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic low back
pain, and certain types of cancers and Type II diabetes can
no longer be called ``late in life'' or ``adult
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onset'' diabetes because we are seeing Type II diabetes (and
other chronic illnesses) in children as young as 10;
Whereas youth who are physically active show less severe
symptoms of anxiety;
Whereas participation in sports and physical activity
improves self-esteem and body image in children and adults;
Whereas children and youth who partake in physical activity
and sports programs have increased motor skills, healthy
lifestyles, social skills, a sense of fair play, strong
teamwork skills, self-discipline, and avoid risky behaviors;
Whereas the 60 million school-aged children and youth in
America have the potential to acquire the knowledge, skills,
and values that can lead to a lifetime of physical activity
and healthy living;
Whereas the social and environmental factors affecting
children are in the control of the adults and the communities
in which they live, and therefore this Nation shares a
collective responsibility in reversing the childhood obesity
trend; and
Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to increase the
physical activity and participation of youth in sports: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes National Physical Education and Sports Week
and the central role of physical activity and sports in
creating a healthy lifestyle for all children and youth;
(2) calls on communities to work with schools, in concert
with key stakeholders of the community, to craft and
implement a local wellness plan as required by the Child
Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 that includes
goals for physical activity, nutrition education, and other
school-based activities to promote physical education and
wellness as well as nutrition guidelines for foods sold in
schools, implementation plans, and measures to determine
effectiveness; and
(3) encourages schools to offer physical education classes
to students and work with community partners to provide
opportunities and safe spaces for physical activities before
and after school and during the summer for all children and
youth.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David
Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which
Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 371 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, this resolution designates May 1-7 as
National Physical Education and Sports Week. This is the second year in
which Congress has officially observed the first week of May for this
purpose.
The benefits of physical activity are well documented. It reduces the
risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, back
pain, and even certain types of cancer. It can increase one's self-
esteem and body image and reduce anxiety. In youth, it develops motor
skills, leads to healthier lifestyles, improves social awareness, and
averts risky behaviors.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends 60 minutes of daily
physical activity for children and teenagers, and 30 minutes of daily
physical activity for adults. Moderate exercise, such as a brisk walk,
when done regularly, has a significant health benefit.
As a Nation, we should be more active. One out of four children do
not attend any physical education classes in school; 61 percent of
children, ages 9 through 13, do not participate in any physical
activity outside of school. Only 25 percent of children get a minimum
of 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity per day.
Mr. Speaker, in comparison, 60 percent of adults are not regularly
active, and 25 percent are not physically active at all. The lack of
physical activity has many negative results. The percentage of
overweight young people has more than tripled since 1980. It is 18
percent of that population today.
Children are now being diagnosed with high blood pressure, high
cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, all once thought to be age related.
Two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese. Obesity-related diseases
cost the economy more than $100 billion annually.
I want to recognize some exemplary programs that are currently
promoting and encouraging physical activity. Four thousand Boys and
Girls Clubs across this country provide more than 4.6 million kids with
the opportunity to be physically active. YMCA provides services to over
20 million people, including the Silver Sneakers programs for seniors.
This resolution acknowledges that physical activity and sports play a
central role in creating a healthy lifestyle for children and adults.
Schools should include physical education classes and other
opportunities for physical opportunities as part of the school day, and
this resolution says communities should be involved and support schools
in the promotion of physical activities, nutrition education and
healthy lifestyles.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 371 to recognize National
Physical Education and Sports Week, which took place this year from May
1 to May 7, 2007.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: ``The first wealth is health.''
Today, these words could not hold more significance. In an increasingly
technologically advanced society dominated by the Internet, cell
phones, BlackBerrys, and, yes, electronic video game controls, the
evidence is growing and is more convincing than ever. People of all
ages who are generally inactive can improve their health and well-being
by becoming active at a moderate intensity on a regular basis.
Regular physical activity substantially reduces the risk of a number
of preventable diseases such as coronary heart disease, the Nation's
leading cause of death; and decreases the risk of stroke, colon cancer,
diabetes, and high blood pressure. It also helps to control weight,
contributes to healthy bones, muscles and joints, reduces falls among
elderly adults and is associated with fewer hospitalizations. Moreover,
physical activity does not need to be strenuous to be beneficial.
People of all ages benefit from participating in regular moderate-
intensity physical activity, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking five
or more times a week.
These are facts we should impress upon our children to ensure they
lead health-conscious lives. Yet according to the Surgeon General's
``Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity,'' only
half of adolescents participate in regular physical activity, and one-
fourth report no physical activity at all.
In addition, we find that more than a third of young people in grades
9-12 do not regularly engage in physical activity. Additionally, daily
participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42
percent in 1991 to only 33 percent in 2005. Physical activity offers a
broad range of benefits, including the prevention of obesity, improves
self-confidence and the overall sense of well-being.
Physical education programs within school settings can set the stage
for how children view physical fitness, activity levels, and future
health. Physical education programs also include general health and
safety information, as well as providing opportunities for students to
learn how to cooperate with one another in a team setting. Equally
important is the fact that physical education programs can teach
students that physical activity can be fun.
With a broad range of games and activities, children are exposed to
forms of exercise that incorporate teamwork, strategy, skill-building
exercises, and other curricula such as math. Indeed, physical education
plays an important role in the development of an individual, just as a
classroom education does.
I join my colleague, Mr. Altmire, in calling for the communities to
work with schools, along with key community stakeholders to craft and
implement a local wellness plan as required in the Child Nutrition and
WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.
I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ALTMIRE. I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his leadership
on this issue and the other legislation that we talked about today.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) that the House suspend the
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rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 371.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
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