[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 86 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WORKSITE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2008

  Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of worksite physical 
activity. On Wednesday, April 23rd, I had the distinct honor of opening 
a session on Capitol Hill that focused on the importance of worksite 
physical activity and how such activity benefits individuals, society, 
our economy and our government. There were a number of congressional 
offices in attendance, but the session covered such an important topic 
I wanted to share a bit of it with my colleagues here today.
  The session, organized by the non-profit group, Partnership for 
Prevention, featured speakers from the Center for Disease Control, the 
National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity, the International 
Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association and Erickson Communities.
  The reason for the session was simple--obesity in this country is 
rising with nearly 67 percent of all American adults being classified 
as obese. Health care costs associated with diseases in which obesity 
is a contributing factor are rising, with costs increasing over the 
thirteen-year period from 1987 to 2000 by between 16 and 30 percent for 
such diseases as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, cancer and heart 
problems. Obesity costs employers more than $117 billion annually in 
sick leave, medical costs, lost productivity and labor replacement 
costs. And the government spends more combating these diseases through 
our federal medical programs.
  Given how widespread and deeply disturbing this issue is, all of us 
have a role in combating obesity. Individuals need to exercise more. 
Companies need to provide more help for workplace fitness and we in 
government ought to both promote physical activity and eliminate any 
barriers that might exist that prevent that at the federal level.
  The speakers addressed each of these issues, with many interesting 
and important facts, but the one that stuck out in my mind was a simple 
one. For every $ that a company invests in a workplace fitness program, 
it gets back $3.48 in reduced health care costs, lower worker 
absenteeism and increased productivity. That is a great return on 
investment. It is why so many companies have invested heavily in 
workplace fitness.
  Sadly, we in Congress have not yet done our part. There are still too 
many barriers within the federal legal code to the promotion of 
workplace physical activity. Two pieces of legislation currently 
pending before the House, H.R. 1748, the Workforce Health Improvement 
Program Act, and H.R. 245, the Personal Health Investment Today Act. 
would eliminate federal tax barriers to the active promotion of 
physical activity. I and a number of my colleagues in the House, from 
both sides of the aisle, support these bills and we are working to get 
them enacted. Just as companies and organizations like the ones at the 
briefing have stepped up, I hope Congress will do the same.

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