[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3599-H3601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH
Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 996) expressing support for designation of
September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 996
Whereas during the past four decades, obesity rates have
soared among all age groups, increasing more than fourfold
among children ages 6 to 11;
Whereas 31.8 percent or 23,000,000 children and teenagers
ages 2 to 19 are obese or overweight, a statistic that health
and medical experts consider an epidemic;
Whereas significant disparities exist among the obesity
rates of children based on race and poverty; for example on
average 38 percent of Mexican-American children and 34.9
percent of African-American children ages 2 to 19 are
overweight or obese, compared with 30.7 percent of White
children and 39.5 percent of low-income American Indian and
Alaska Native children ages 2 to 5;
Whereas the financial implications of childhood obesity
pose a financial threat to our economy and health care
system, carrying up to $14,000,000,000 per year in direct
health care cost, with people in the United States spending
about 9 percent of their total medical costs on obesity-
related illnesses;
Whereas obese young people have an 80 percent chance of
being obese adults and are more likely than children of
normal weight to become overweight or obese adults, and
therefore more at risk for associated adult health problems,
including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea,
stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis;
Whereas in part due to the childhood obesity epidemic, 1 in
3 children (and nearly 1 in 2 minority children) born in the
year 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes at some point in their
lifetime if current trends continue;
Whereas some consequences of childhood and adolescent
obesity are psychosocial and
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can hinder academic and social functioning and persist into
adulthood;
Whereas participating in physical activity is important for
children and teens as it may have beneficial effects not only
on body weight, but also on blood pressure and bone strength;
Whereas proper nutrition is important for children before
birth and through their life span as nutrition has beneficial
effects for health and body weight, and is important in the
prevention of various chronic diseases;
Whereas childhood obesity is preventable, yet does not
appear to be declining;
Whereas public, community-based, and private sector
organizations and individuals throughout the United States,
including First Lady Michelle Obama, are working to decrease
childhood obesity rates for people in the United States of
all races through a range of efforts, including educational
presentations, media campaigns, Web sites, policies,
healthier food options, and greater opportunities for
physical activity; and
Whereas America on the Move, American Beverage Association,
American College of Sports Medicine, American Diabetes
Association, American Dietetic Association, American Heart
Association, American Medical Association, American Medical
Group Association, American Sleep Apnea Association, American
Society of Bariatric Physicians, American Society for
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Society for
Nutrition, American Society of Landscape Architects,
Amerinet, BET Foundation, Black Leadership Forum, Black
Women's Health Imperative, Campaign to End Obesity, Canyon
Ranch Institute, Center for Science in the Public Interest,
Children's Health Fund, Children's National Medical Center,
Children Now, COSHAR Foundation, First Focus, Grocery
Manufacturers Association, Healthcare Leadership Council,
HealthCorps, Healthways, International, Health, Racquet, and
Sportsclub Association, Medical Fitness Association, NAACP,
National Association of Children's Hospitals, National
Association of Chronic Disease Directors, National
Association of School Nurses, National Association for Sport
and Physical Education, National Black Nurses Association,
National Collaboration for Youth, National Congress of Black
Women, Inc., National Council of Urban Indian Health,
National Family Caregivers Association, National Football
League, National Football League Players Association,
National Indian Health Board, National Latina Health Network,
National League of Cities, National Medical Association,
National Recreation and Park Association, Nemours, Obesity
Action Coalition, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease,
Partnership for Prevention, PepsiCo, Richard Simmons' Ask
America PE Crusade, Safe Routes to School National
Partnership, ShapeUp America!, STOP Obesity Alliance, The
Coca-Cola Company, The Obesity Society, Trust for America's
Health, United Fresh Produce Association, United Way,
University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital,
U.S. Conference of Mayors, U.S. Preventive Medicine, Inc.,
Voices for America's Children, YMCA of the USA, YWCA USA, and
other organizations support the designation of September as
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month to educate the
public about the need for increased education and proactive
steps to prevent childhood obesity in the United States: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of National Childhood Obesity
Awareness Month to raise public awareness and mobilize the
country to address childhood obesity;
(2) recognizes the importance of preventing childhood
obesity and decreasing its prevalence in the United States;
and
(3) requests that the President encourage the Federal
Government, States, tribes and tribal organizations,
localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses,
other entities, and the people of the United States to
observe the month with appropriate programs and activities
with the goal of promoting healthy eating and physical
activity and increasing awareness of childhood obesity among
individuals of all ages and walks of life.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Capps) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of House Resolution 996, expressing support
for the designation of September as National Childhood Obesity
Awareness Month. I would like to commend my colleague from Ohio, Marcia
Fudge, for introducing this resolution which I am proud to cosponsor.
This is a bipartisan resolution, supported by over 75 national
organizations representing both the public and private sectors. By
dedicating September, the month when most children have returned to
school, to focus attention on combating childhood obesity, we can set
our kids on a healthier course for the entire school year.
Consideration of this resolution is particularly timely, given last
week's release of the Task Force on Childhood Obesity's report by the
White House and the strong championship of First Lady Michelle Obama on
this issue.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in
every three American children ages 2 to 19 is overweight or obese, and
studies conducted at the National Center for Health Statistics of the
CDC found that obesity more than tripled among children and adolescents
between 1976 and 2008. Childhood obesity is a problem for the entire
Nation, but it is more common among certain racial and ethnic groups,
with the highest obesity rates present among African American girls and
Hispanic boys.
Obesity is a serious health threat. It's estimated to cause 112,000
deaths per year, and one in three children born in the year 2000 are
expected to develop diabetes during his or her lifetime. Unless this
trend is reversed, at least 23 million American kids will be in danger
of becoming the first generation in American history to have shorter
life spans than their parents. As a former school nurse, I've seen all
too well that the consequences of obesity aren't just manifested
physically. There are also devastating behavioral and mental health
implications, as obesity is associated with lower self-esteem, poor
academic achievement and depression.
Supporting awareness and prevention of childhood obesity can help us
eliminate billions of dollars in unnecessary health care costs and help
promote a healthier lifestyle that will prolong and improve the lives
of the next generation of Americans. I urge my colleagues to vote in
favor of this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H. Res. 996, to support the designation of
September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. A third of the
people ages 2 to 19 are obese now, and experience tells us that they
probably will grow both literally and figuratively into obese adults.
It means that in just a few years, a disproportionately high number of
them will hear a doctor explain that they have heart disease or
diabetes or cancer or arthritis or an increased chance of having a
stroke. But childhood obesity is preventable, and so it doesn't have to
lead to bad news in a doctor's office later in life. Exercise and good
nutrition that start early not only fight childhood obesity but also
instill the habits that promote lifelong health.
Let me say a word about personal responsibility here. No
congressional resolution can replace the good sense of concerned
parents. I think most parents know instinctively that healthy families
produce healthy adults, and I commend them. I also think they deserve
our recognition and appreciation and encouragement. In the final
analysis, any attempt to raise awareness of a problem like childhood
obesity must involve individuals making good choices for the sake of
their own health. Raising our voices to help advance public awareness
of that crucial, beneficial truth is worthwhile business for the
people's House to undertake.
I would like to thank the sponsor of this resolution, Representative
Marcia Fudge from Ohio, for all of her work on this resolution. I would
also like to thank Representative Bono Mack who has labored so hard to
bring attention to the childhood obesity problem. We stand in support
of this legislation and hope that our colleagues will join us.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlelady from Ohio, Congresswoman Fudge.
Ms. FUDGE. I thank the gentlewoman from California so much. This is
something for which I am very, very passionate, and I am pleased and
proud
[[Page H3601]]
to be one of the sponsors of this legislation and to be on this floor
today to talk just briefly about it. I, along with Representative Kay
Granger of Texas, introduced House Resolution 996, designating
September 2010 as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. This is a
bipartisan resolution, supported by over 75 national organizations
including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Education
Association, the YMCA, the YWCA, the American Medical Association,
United Way, NAACP, and the National Indian Health Board.
Dedicating at least one month out of each year to bring awareness to
the issue of childhood obesity will help maximize the effect of
programming, messaging and campaigns--all aligned with the sole purpose
of eradicating childhood obesity. According to the Alliance for a
Healthier Generation, one in three children are already overweight or
obese. Unless we work to reverse this epidemic, these 23 million kids
will be in danger of never being grandparents. Imagine living a life,
and you know that you may never live long enough to be a grandparent.
Imagine a day when our children can't play on playgrounds because they
can't play kickball because they're winded; or they can't play
basketball because they're winded; or they can't run track. This is
very, very important. I want to say that it is significant that we
today work with the White House and so many others who are looking at
how we deal with not just obesity but nutrition. It is important for us
to be sure that young people receive a healthy start, and a lot of that
is not in the hands of young people. It is in our hands.
The financial implications of childhood obesity are overwhelming, at
$14 billion per year in direct health care costs. Supporting awareness
and prevention of childhood obesity will eliminate billions of dollars
in unnecessary health care costs and help promote a healthier lifestyle
that will prolong and improve the lives of the next generation of
Americans.
{time} 1345
Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).
Ms. TITUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 996, a
resolution to recognize September as National Childhood Obesity
Awareness Month, and I applaud Congresswoman Fudge for introducing this
resolution to bring awareness to such an important issue.
Obesity has been linked to a wide range of negative health outcomes,
and the alarming rise of childhood obesity, if left unchecked, could
lead to a national health crisis. Obese children are at greater risk
for a number of diseases and are more likely to have health problems
that put them at risk throughout their life for diabetes,
cardiovascular illness, and cancer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, childhood obesity has
more than tripled in the past 30 years, so it is vital that we take
action, recognize the problem, and begin to address it.
I, too, would like to commend First Lady Michele Obama and, in
Nevada, State Senator Valerie Weiner for their tireless efforts to
combat this problem.
I am also proud to serve on the Education and Labor Committee which
will soon be taking up reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act. I
look forward to the opportunity to address childhood obesity and the
crisis it creates through that important legislation.
In the meantime, I am pleased to support the resolution before us
today, H. Res. 996, brought by the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge)
because it will help raise awareness of childhood obesity, acknowledge
its adverse lifetime consequences, and offer ways to combat the growing
problem.
Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I urge my
colleagues to support H. Res. 996, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 996, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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