[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 149 (Wednesday, October 3, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H11227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FOUNDATION FOR A FIT NATION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Foundation 
for a Fit Nation Act, legislation to establish the National Physical 
Fitness and Sports Foundation which would fund the President's Council 
on Physical Fitness and Sports.
  Despite the undisputed benefits of physical activity, most Americans 
continue to lead alarmingly inactive lifestyles. Studies by the Center 
for Disease Control show that more than 50 percent of American adults 
do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits, and 24 
percent are not active at all in their leisure time. According to the 
CDC, 61.5 percent of children between the ages of 9 and 13 do not 
participate in any organized physical activity outside of school; 
however, the American Heart Association found that schools are cutting 
back on physical education, the best method to combat childhood 
obesity.
  In the United States, obesity among both children and adults has 
become a problem of epidemic proportions. The number of Americans who 
are overweight and obese is staggering. The American Obesity 
Association reported 127 million overweight adults in the United 
States. The most disturbing statistics, however, revolve around the 
growing rates of obesity of American children. The Department of Health 
and Human Services predicts that 20 percent of American youth will be 
obese by the year 2010.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot afford to ignore these statistics any longer. 
We owe it to ourselves and our Nation to support a healthy lifestyle 
for our constituents. We should be especially cognizant of the 
importance of instilling in our young people an appreciation of the 
value of maximizing physical fitness. The creation of the National 
Foundation on Physical Fitness serves as an important first step 
towards reaching these goals.
  The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a part of the 
Department of Health and Human Services, is an advisory committee 
created in 1982 to promote physical activity and fitness in the United 
States. Currently, the President's Council on Physical Fitness operates 
on a shoestring budget, a mere $2.1 million, a figure which is vastly 
incommensurate with the importance of the PCPF mission. The Council is 
among several departments within the Center for Disease Control which 
are eligible to receive private contributions, however it is currently 
not authorized to solicit contributions.
  When the Foundation for a Fit Nation Act is passed, it would direct 
the President's Council on Physical Fitness to establish a nonprofit 
foundation designed to promote and encourage the solicitation of 
private contributions as an independent source of funding for the 
Council. This budget increase would allow the President's Council on 
Physical Fitness to expand its scope and activities with no cost to 
taxpayers. This bill would help further an important national goal, 
encouraging and fostering physical fitness and well-being through three 
specific measures:
  First, establishing the nonprofit National Physical Fitness and 
Sports Foundation to promote and improve physical fitness and sports 
programs in conjunction with the President's Council on Physical 
Fitness and Sports;
  second, allowing the Foundation to solicit, receive and administer 
private contributions for the President's Council;
  and third, establishing a bipartisan nine-member board of directors 
to oversee the Foundation.
  Physical activity is not only vitally important for our health, but 
serves as an enjoyable means for the development of commitment, 
perseverance and teamwork, all of which foster strong societies.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation 
which would provide a private source of funding for an organization 
critical to the well-being of our constituents.

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