[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

[[Page H4522]]

     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

[[Page H4523]]

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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