[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H4694-H4696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1140
SUPPORTING NATIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT WEEK
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1373) expressing support for designation of the
week beginning May 2, 2010, as ``National Physical Education and Sport
Week''.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1373
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;
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;
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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 House of Representatives strongly supports
efforts to increase physical activity and participation of
youth in sports: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris
Rodgers) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House
Resolution 1373 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1373, which
recognizes the critical importance of physical education and physical
activity for all of our Nation's children and youth by celebrating
National Physical Education and Sport Week. Participation in physical
education and sports programs not only helps children stay physically
fit, but contributes to a range of academic, social, and personal
gains. With the observance of this week, coaches, educators, and
parents around the country will promote greater youth participation in
physical education and help tackle the growing problem of childhood
obesity.
Since 1980, the childhood obesity rate in America has more than
tripled. The increase in obesity is, in large part, due to a decrease
in regular physical exercise. Fewer than one in five adolescents now
meet the Center for Disease Control's recommended 60 minutes of
physical activity per day. Many children do not have the opportunity to
participate in physical education. Only a fraction of the Nation's
elementary, middle, and high schools are provided regular physical
education classes.
Physical activity reduces the risk of heart attack, heart disease,
high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Research
shows that children who have the opportunity to engage in physical
activity regularly are more likely to thrive academically and graduate.
In addition to improved academic performance, participation in sports
teams and other physical activities can improve behavior, increase
self-esteem, develop social skills, and help kids lead a healthy
lifestyle as an adult. We are responsible for educating our children
about physical education and for providing opportunities for fitness.
National Physical Education and Sport Week reaffirms the importance of
healthy bodies and healthy minds in our communities and schools.
Mr. Speaker, I once again express my support for House Resolution
1373, the National Physical Education and Sport Week. I thank
Congressman Altmire for introducing this resolution, and I urge my
colleagues to support this fine resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1373, expressing support
for designating the week beginning May 2, 2010, as National Physical
Education and Sport Week. Today, childhood obesity rates are alarmingly
high and continue to increase. Over 33 percent of America's elementary
school children are overweight or obese and 13 percent of America's
high school children. These increasing rates are associated with
increased rates of diseases in children that were only seen in adults
until recently. Obese children have been shown to be at an increased
risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, and
numerous other debilitating diseases. In addition childhood obesity can
significantly increase the risk that a child will be obese in
adulthood.
Physical activity is key to preventing these kinds of illnesses in
both children and adults. Regular physical activity substantially
reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, strokes, colon cancer,
diabetes, and high blood pressure. It's important to treat and address
obesity and begin and sustain the weight loss process. Physical
activity need not be strenuous to be beneficial, but America's youth
are participating at an ever decreasing rate.
Physical education and sports encourage children to participate in
physical activity on a regular basis in a group setting that can foster
teamwork, competition, and a sense of accomplishments. Participation of
children in organizing sports has grown in recent decades. However, the
percentage of children participating in daily physical activity has
declined. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends
that children engage in 60 minutes of physical activity on most or all
days of the week. However, only 17 percent of high school students are
meeting this recommendation.
National Physical Education and Sport Week highlights the benefits of
physical education and sports in the lives of America's children.
Highlighting the importance of such benefits encourages our children to
begin healthy physical activity and habits that continue throughout
their lives. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may
consume to the sponsor of H. Res. 1373, the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Altmire).
Mr. ALTMIRE. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my resolution to honor National
Physical Education and Sport Week. More than one-third of America's
elementary school children are overweight or obese, and more than 13
percent of America's high school children are overweight or obese. As a
result, these children are now developing diseases and vascular
conditions that were once thought to affect only the middle-aged, such
as type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. In
addition, research has shown that children that participate in physical
activity perform better in the classroom. So the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention recommend that children engage in 60 minutes of
physical activity 5 or more days per week. However, only 35 percent of
our Nation's children regularly meet this recommendation.
This resolution, which I introduced, acknowledges that physical
activity and sports play a central role in creating an opportunity for
children to build lifelong healthy habits. And it's for this reason,
Mr. Speaker, that I introduced this resolution, and I encourage all of
my colleagues to support it.
Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).
Mr. SARBANES. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I just wanted to commend my colleague, Congressman Altmire, for
introducing this resolution to designate the week beginning May 2 as
National Physical Education and Sport Week.
Today, the President is going to be launching at Bell Multicultural
High School in Columbia Heights, here in
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the District of Columbia, the President's Council on Fitness, Sport,
and Nutrition, which expands on the President's Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports, which has been in place since the Kennedy
administration, the Eisenhower administration. It brings the kind of
focus to physical fitness and sports and nutrition that Congressman
Altmire has signaled with this resolution.
Again, I commend him for bringing that attention to this issue, and I
urge support of this resolution.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time but would
like to urge that House Resolution 1373 be passed. We also in my
district on Saturday will be having a community meeting dealing with
obesity, in line with the President and First Lady Obama's initiative
to battle obesity. We've been doing this now for the past decade. It's
in epidemic proportions in some districts. So we do urge the people to
come out to Metropolitan Church on Saturday to participate. But we
believe that this is very important. The health of our Nation is at
stake. And so I certainly urge support of the National Physical
Education and Sport Week, House Resolution 1373, and urge passage.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1373.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. 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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