[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
[June 23, 2000]
[Pages 1236-1237]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Memorandum on Enhancing Efforts To Promote the Health of Our Young 
People Through Physical Activity and Participation in Sports
June 23, 2000

Memorandum for the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary 
of Education

Subject: Enhancing Efforts to Promote the Health of Our Young People 
Through Physical Activity and Participation in Sports

    Physical activity and participation in sports are central to the 
overall health and well-being of children and adults. Adolescence is an 
especially important time to establish the habit of participation in 
daily physical activity. Sports and physical activity can introduce 
young people to skills such as teamwork, self-discipline, and 
sportsmanship. Lack of recreational activity, on the other hand, may 
contribute to making young people more vulnerable to gangs, drugs, or 
violence. Studies consistently show that adolescents who engage in 
regular physical activity have higher self-esteem and lower anxiety and 
stress. Unfortunately, daily enrollment in high school physical 
education classes dropped from 42 percent to 29 percent between 1991 and 
1999 and about 14 percent of young people ages 12-21 report no recent 
physical activity at all. Over the past 30 years, the percentage of 
young people who are overweight has more than doubled.
    The extent of this problem should not be underestimated. Last year, 
for example, the United States spent over $68 billion, or 6 percent of 
the Nation's health care expenditures, on direct health care costs 
related to obesity. According to the landmark 1996 Surgeon General's 
Report on Physical Activity and Health, inactivity and poor diet 
contribute to nearly 300,000 deaths in the United States annually. In 
conjunction with the recent National Nutrition Summit hosted by my 
Administration--the first in over three decades--I released revised 
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including a new guideline recommending 
regular physical activity.
    My Administration has an ongoing multi-pronged effort to promote 
physical activity and fitness. The President's Council on Physical 
Fitness and Sports Participation continues to play an important role in 
promoting physical fitness and sports participation nationwide. A key 
part of the Council's work is the President's Challenge Youth Physical 
Fitness Awards Program, which offers awards for participation and 
excellence in a set of physical fitness assessments to encourage 2.9 
million students to improve and maintain physical fitness. The 
Department of Health and Human Services' National Youth Sports Program 
collaborates with participating colleges to provide summer sports 
programs in college environments to youth living in areas of urban and 
rural poverty. Currently, over 70,000 children at over 200 colleges and 
universities through this program can improve their physical fitness and 
health habits while becoming acquainted with post-secondary educational 
opportunities.
    The Department of Education also promotes physical activity and 
health in schools. My Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
reauthorization proposal includes ``Lifelong Physical Activity'' 
discretionary grants as part of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and 
Communities Act. Building on current demonstration projects by the 
Centers for Disease Control, this initiative would authorize funding for 
sites to implement programs that promote lifelong physical activity and 
health awareness during and after school by linking physical education 
with health education.
    These efforts, and many similar public and private initiatives 
around the country, are encouraging. We must now build on this 
groundwork by developing additional strategies for promoting physical 
fitness and participation in

[[Page 1237]]

sports, which are essential to improving individual and community 
health.
    Therefore, I direct you to identify and report back to me within 90 
days on strategies to promote better health for our Nation's youth 
through physical activity and fitness, including:
        1.  Promoting the renewal of physical education in our schools, 
            as well as the expansion of after-school programs that offer 
            physical activities and sports in addition to enhanced 
            academics and cultural activities;
        2.  Encouraging participation by private sector partners in 
            raising the level of physical activity and fitness among our 
            youth; and
        3.  Promoting greater coordination of existing public and 
            private resources that encourages physical activity and 
            sports.
    In developing these strategies, you shall work with the U.S. Olympic 
Committee, and other private and nongovernmental sports organizations, 
as appropriate.
    By identifying effective new steps and strengthening public-private 
partnerships, we will advance our efforts to prepare the Nation's young 
people for lifelong physical fitness.

                                                      William J. Clinton

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this memorandum.