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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 444 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 444

   Designating the week of May 1 through May 7, 2012, as ``National 
                  Physical Education and Sport Week''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 26, 2012

   Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Thune) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Designating the week of May 1 through May 7, 2012, as ``National 
                  Physical Education and Sport Week''.

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;
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.
                                 <all>
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