III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 133 

Designating May 1 through May 7, 2009, as ‘‘National Physical Education 

and Sport Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 6, 2009 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. THUNE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating May 1 through May 7, 2009, as ‘‘National 

Physical Education and Sport Week’’. 

Whereas childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions 

in the United States; 

Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that, by 2010, 20 percent of children in the United 

States will be obese; 

Whereas a decline in physical activity has contributed to the 

unprecedented epidemic of childhood obesity; 

Whereas regular physical activity is necessary to support normal and healthy growth in children; 

Whereas overweight adolescents have a 70 to 80 percent 

chance of becoming overweight adults, increasing their 

risk for chronic disease, disability, and death; 


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•SRES 133 ATS 

Whereas Type II 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 recommend that children engage in at least 60 minutes of 

physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the 

week; 

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 teaching children about physical education 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 its importance; 

Whereas only 3.8 percent of elementary schools, 7.9 percent 

of middle schools, and 2.1 percent of high schools provide 

daily physical education or its equivalent for the entire 

school year, and 22 percent of schools do not require students to take any physical education at all; 

Whereas research shows that fit and active children are more 

likely to thrive academically; 

Whereas participation in sports and physical activity improves self-esteem and body image in children and adults; 

Whereas the social and environmental factors affecting children are in the control of the adults and the communities 

in which they live, and therefore this Nation shares a collective responsibility in reversing the childhood obesity 

trend; and 


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•SRES 133 ATS 

Whereas Congress strongly supports efforts to increase physical activity and participation of youth in sports: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of May 1 through May 

3 7, 2009, as ‘‘National Physical Education and Sport 

4 Week’’; 

5 (2) recognizes ‘‘National Physical Education 

6 and Sport Week’’ and the central role of physical 

7 education and sports in creating a healthy lifestyle 

8 for all children and youth; 

9 (3) calls on school districts to implement local 

10 wellness policies as defined by the Child Nutrition 

11 and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 that include 

12 ambitious goals for physical education, physical ac13 tivity, and other activities addressing the childhood 

14 obesity epidemic and promoting child wellness; and 

15 (4) encourages schools to offer physical edu16 cation classes to students and work with community 

17 partners to provide opportunities and safe spaces for 

18 physical activities before and after school and during 

19 the summer months for all children and youth. 

Æ 


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