[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13236]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       SENIOR HEALTH AND FITNESS

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise as chairman of the Senate Special 
Committee on Aging to discuss senior health and fitness. May is Older 
Americans Month and I feel that it is especially appropriate to mention 
two events occurring this month that help highlight healthy aging.
  First, for the past 10 years, the last Wednesday in May has been 
designated as National Senior Health and Fitness Day. This year is no 
different and on Wednesday, May 28, 1,500 local organizations in every 
State of the Union, will again celebrate National Senior Health and 
Fitness Day, the Nation's largest annual health promotion event for 
older adults. Local organizations will host a variety of activities 
tailored to the needs and interests of their communities. Last year 
these activities included health walks, health screening, and a wide 
variety of other events. National Senior Health and Fitness Day is an 
excellent opportunity for seniors of all fitness levels to take part in 
locally organized health and fitness events. In my home State of Idaho, 
the Southwest Idaho Area Agency on Aging, the local YMCA, and a host of 
other organizations have teamed up to hold a walk in Boise. Idaho 
seniors will walk anywhere from 2 years, to 2 miles, depending on the 
participant's ability, a reminder that walking and being active are far 
more important than how far or how fast we travel.
  Second, the 2003 Summer National Senior Games, the Senior Olympics, 
opens Monday, May 26, in Hampton Roads, VA. An estimated 10,000 senior 
athletes will come together to compete in a wide variety of sporting 
events ranging from horseshoes and shuffleboard to track and field and 
the triathlon. It is one of the largest mutlisport athletic 
competitions in the world. I especially salute the 15 Idahoans who will 
be competing. The Senior Olympians are examples to all of us.
  The goals for Senior Day are to make exercise fun, to increase 
awareness of the benefits of a regular exercise program for older 
adults, and to encourage all older adults to take advantage of the many 
health and fitness programs offered in their communities. As chairman 
of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I share these goals. It is 
important to highlight fitness and nutrition for seniors as a way of 
life. This is a concept that is very important to our ever-growing 
aging population.
  I salute all athletes participating in the National Senior Games and 
all those involved in the National Senior Health and Fitness program in 
their communities.

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