[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S774-S775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Tillis,
Mr. Marshall, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Scott of South
Carolina, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Sinema, and Mr. King):
S. 786. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat
certain amounts paid for physical activity, fitness, and exercise as
amounts paid for medical care; to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unamimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 786
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Personal Health Investment
Today Act of 2023'' or the ``PHIT Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to promote health and prevent
disease, particularly diseases related to being overweight or
obese, by--
(1) encouraging healthier lifestyles;
(2) providing financial incentives to ease the financial
burden of engaging in healthy behavior; and
(3) increasing the ability of individuals and families to
participate in physical fitness activities.
SEC. 3. CERTAIN AMOUNTS PAID FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, FITNESS,
AND EXERCISE TREATED AS AMOUNTS PAID FOR
MEDICAL CARE.
(a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 213(d) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``or''
at the end of subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the
end of subparagraph (D) and inserting ``, or'', and by
inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraph:
``(E) for qualified sports and fitness expenses.''.
(b) Qualified Sports and Fitness Expenses.--Subsection (d)
of section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(12) Qualified sports and fitness expenses.--
``(A) In general.--The term `qualified sports and fitness
expenses' means amounts paid exclusively for the sole purpose
of participating in a physical activity including--
``(i) for membership at a fitness facility,
``(ii) for participation or instruction in physical
exercise or physical activity, or
``(iii) for equipment used in a program (including a self-
directed program) of physical exercise or physical activity.
``(B) Overall dollar limitation.--The aggregate amount
treated as qualified sports and fitness expenses with respect
to any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed $1,000
($2,000 in the case of a joint return or a head of household
(as defined in section 2(b))).
``(C) Fitness facility.--For purposes of subparagraph
(A)(i), the term `fitness facility' means a facility--
``(i) which provides instruction in a program of physical
exercise, offers facilities for the preservation,
maintenance, encouragement, or development of physical
fitness, or serves as the site of such a program of a State
or local government,
``(ii) which is not a private club owned and operated by
its members,
``(iii) which does not offer golf, hunting, sailing, or
riding facilities,
``(iv) the health or fitness component of which is not
incidental to its overall function and purpose, and
[[Page S775]]
``(v) which is fully compliant with the State of
jurisdiction and Federal anti-discrimination laws.
``(D) Treatment of exercise videos, etc.--Videos, books,
and similar materials shall be treated as described in
subparagraph (A)(ii) if the content of such materials
constitutes instruction in a program of physical exercise or
physical activity.
``(E) Limitations related to sports and fitness
equipment.--Amounts paid for equipment described in
subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be treated as qualified sports
and fitness expenses only--
``(i) if such equipment is utilized exclusively for
participation in fitness, exercise, sport, or other physical
activity,
``(ii) in the case of amounts paid for apparel or footwear,
if such apparel or footwear is of a type that is necessary
for, and is not used for any purpose other than, a specific
physical activity, and
``(iii) in the case of amounts paid for any single item of
sports equipment (other than exercise equipment), to the
extent such amounts do not exceed $250.
``(F) Programs which include components other than physical
exercise and physical activity.--Rules similar to the rules
of paragraph (6) shall apply in the case of any program that
includes physical exercise or physical activity and also
other components. For purposes of the preceding sentence,
travel and accommodations shall be treated as a separate
component.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
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