[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 68 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3409-S3410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 515--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING MAY 2, 2010, AS 
             ``NATIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT WEEK''

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. Thune) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 515

       Whereas the week beginning May 2, 2010, is observed as 
     National Physical Education and Sport Week;
       Whereas a decline in physical activity has contributed to 
     an unprecedented epidemic of childhood obesity in the United 
     States, which has more than tripled since 1980;
       Whereas regular physical activity is necessary to support 
     normal and healthy growth in children and is essential to 
     their continued health and well-being;
       Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, overweight adolescents have a 70 to 80 percent 
     chance of becoming overweight adults, increasing their risk 
     for chronic disease, disability, and death;
       Whereas physical activity reduces the risk of heart 
     disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain types of 
     cancers;
       Whereas type 2 diabetes can no longer be referred to as 
     ``late in life'' or ``adult onset'' diabetes because it 
     occurs in children as young as 10 years old;
       Whereas the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 
     published by the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     recommend that children engage in at least 60 minutes of 
     physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the 
     week;
       Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, only 17 percent of high school students meet that 
     goal of 60 minutes of physical activity a day;
       Whereas children spend many of their waking hours at school 
     and therefore need to be active during the school day to meet 
     the recommendations of the Physical Activity Guidelines for 
     Americans;
       Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, 1 in 4 children in the United States does not 
     attend any school physical education classes and fewer than 1 
     in 4 children in the United States engage in 20 minutes of 
     vigorous physical activity each day;

[[Page S3410]]

       Whereas teaching children about physical activity and 
     sports not only ensures that they are physically active 
     during the school day, but also educates them on how to be 
     physically active and the importance of being physically 
     active;
       Whereas, according to a 2006 survey by the Department of 
     Health and Human Services, 3.8 percent of elementary schools, 
     7.9 percent of middle schools, and 2.1 percent of high 
     schools provide daily physical education classes or the 
     equivalent for the entire school year, and 22 percent of 
     schools do not require students to take any physical 
     education classes at all;
       Whereas, according to that survey, 13.7 percent of 
     elementary schools, 15.2 percent of middle schools, and 3.0 
     percent of high schools provided physical education at least 
     3 days per week, or the equivalent thereof, for the entire 
     school year for students in all grades in the school;
       Whereas research shows that fit and active children are 
     more likely to thrive academically;
       Whereas increased time in physical education classes can 
     improve children's attention and concentration and result in 
     higher test scores;
       Whereas participation in sports teams and physical activity 
     clubs, which are often organized by schools and run outside 
     the regular school day, can improve students' grade point 
     averages, attachment to schools, educational aspirations, and 
     the likelihood of graduating;
       Whereas participation in sports and other physical 
     activities also improves self-esteem and body image in 
     children and adults;
       Whereas children and youth who take part in physical 
     activity and sports programs develop improved motor skills, 
     healthy lifestyles, improved social skills, a sense of fair 
     play, strong teamwork skills, and self-discipline and avoid 
     risky behaviors;
       Whereas the social and environmental factors affecting 
     children are in the control of the adults and the communities 
     in which children live, and therefore the Nation shares a 
     collective responsibility in reversing the childhood obesity 
     trend;
       Whereas efforts to improve the fitness level of children 
     who are not physically fit may also result in improvements in 
     academic performance; and
       Whereas the Senate strongly supports efforts to increase 
     physical activity and participation of youth in sports: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning May 2, 2010, as 
     ``National Physical Education and Sport Week'';
       (2) recognizes the central role of physical education and 
     sports in creating healthy lifestyles for all children and 
     youth;
       (3) encourages school districts to implement local wellness 
     policies, as described in section 204 of the Child Nutrition 
     and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 1751 note), 
     that include ambitious goals for physical education, physical 
     activity, and other activities addressing the childhood 
     obesity epidemic and promoting child wellness; and
       (4) encourages schools to offer physical education classes 
     to students and to work with community partners to provide 
     opportunities and safe spaces for physical activities before 
     and after school and during the summer months for all 
     children and youth.

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