[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DOING MORE THAN TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL FITNESS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2007

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, we are all well acquainted with the Mark 
Twain quote, ``Everyone talks about the weather but nobody does 
anything about it.'' I think the 21st century equivalent of Mr. Twain's 
words might be, ``Everyone talks about physical fitness but far too few 
do anything about it.''
  There is strong evidence that increased physical fitness not only 
benefits the individual, but our society and our economy as well. 
Increased physical fitness not only reduces the risk of heart disease 
but it also reduces the risk of developing diabetes and can help 
control Type II Diabetes.
  Additionally, physical fitness can help older adults build stronger 
bones and develop muscle; thereby lessening the severity of any fall. 
Physical fitness also increases worker productivity, contributes to 
lower workplace absenteeism and improves mental health. A physically 
fit society also lowers Federal spending to combat diseases like heart 
disease or hypertension that affect so many of our Medicaid patients.
  The importance of physical activity as a benefit to all was recently 
highlighted by a new study on the economic burden of chronic disease, 
authored by the Milken Institute. Its findings are stark--the incidence 
and costs of chronic disease are rising rapidly. If nothing is done to 
increase the level of fitness in the Nation, the costs of treating the 
associated diseases will grow by 42 percent over the next decade.
  According to the Milken Institute study, we need to move our health 
care system to one that provides incentives for prevention, wellness 
and focuses on achieving a healthy body weight. It is evident that an 
increased amount of physical fitness contributes materially to these 
goals. Furthermore, as Members of Congress, we should be looking at how 
to best effectively improve physical fitness.
  One way is to remove any inequities under Federal law that prevents 
the promotion of physical fitness. Two inequities currently exist. 
First, gym memberships that employees provide for off-site facilities 
are taxable to the employee as a benefit while those in-house are not--
a clear disincentive for both companies and individuals to work fitness 
into the work day. Second, flexible spending accounts can not be used 
for physical fitness equipment or activities. Thus, we have a situation 
where you can use a flexible spending account on medicines to treat 
illnesses such as diabetes but the funds can not be used to increase 
the opportunity to exercise, which often controls and sometimes can 
prevent disease.
  In both cases, legislation is currently pending before the Ways and 
Means Committee to correct these inequities. I urge the members of the 
Committee and its leadership to consider them expeditiously and to 
disprove Mark Twain's reworked adage.

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