[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 61 (Thursday, April 26, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2832-S2833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 444--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF MAY 1 THROUGH MAY 7, 
        2012, 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. 444

       Whereas a decline in physical activity has contributed to 
     the unprecedented epidemic of childhood obesity, which has 
     more than tripled in the United States since 1980;
       Whereas regular physical activity is necessary to support 
     normal and healthy growth in children and is essential to the 
     continued health and well-being of children;
       Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control, 
     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 type 2 
     diabetes presently occurs in children as young as 10 years 
     old;
       Whereas the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 
     issued 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, only 
     19 percent of high school students are meeting the goal of 60 
     minutes of physical activity each day;
       Whereas children spend many of their waking hours at school 
     and, as a result, need to be active during the school day to 
     meet the recommendations of the Physical Activity Guidelines 
     for Americans;

[[Page S2833]]

       Whereas nationally, according to the Centers for Disease 
     Control, 1 out of 4 children does not attend any school 
     physical education classes, and fewer than 1 in 4 children 
     get 20 minutes of vigorous activity every day;
       Whereas teaching children about physical education and 
     sports not only ensures that the children are physically 
     active during the school day, but also educates the children 
     on how to be physically active and the importance of physical 
     activity;
       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 (or an equivalent) 
     for the entire school year, and 22 percent of schools do not 
     require students to take any physical education courses at 
     all;
       Whereas according to that 2006 survey, 13.7 percent of 
     elementary schools, 15.2 percent of middle schools, and 3.0 
     percent of high schools provide physical education (or an 
     equivalent) at least 3 days per week 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 
     help the attention, concentration, and achievement test 
     scores of children;
       Whereas participation in sports teams and physical activity 
     clubs, often organized by the school and run outside of the 
     regular school day, can improve grade point average, school 
     attachment, educational aspirations, and the likelihood of 
     graduation;
       Whereas participation in sports and physical activity 
     improves self-esteem and body image in children and adults;
       Whereas children and youths who partake in physical 
     activity and sports programs have increased motor skills, 
     healthy lifestyles, social skills, a sense of fair play, 
     strong teamwork skills, self-discipline, and avoidance of 
     risky behaviors;
       Whereas the social and environmental factors affecting 
     children are in the control of the adults and the communities 
     in which the children live, and therefore, the people of the 
     United States share a collective responsibility in reversing 
     the childhood obesity epidemic;
       Whereas if efforts are made to intervene with unfit 
     children to bring those children to physically fit levels, 
     then there may also be a concomitant rise in the academic 
     performance of those children; and
       Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to increase 
     physical activity and participation of children and youth in 
     sports: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of May 1 through May 7, 2012, as 
     ``National Physical Education and Sport Week'';
       (2) recognizes National Physical Education and Sport Week 
     and the central role of physical education and sports in 
     creating a healthy lifestyle for all children and youth;
       (3) supports the implementation of local school wellness 
     policies (as that term is described in section 9A of the 
     Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1758b)) that include ambitious goals for physical education, 
     physical activity, and other activities that address the 
     childhood obesity epidemic and promote child wellness; and
       (4) encourages schools to offer physical education classes 
     to students and 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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