I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2179 
To provide for the publication by the Secretary of Human Services of physical 
activity guidelines for Americans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 23, 2013 
Mr. KIND (for himself and Mr. SCHOCK) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To provide for the publication by the Secretary of Human 
Services of physical activity guidelines for Americans. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Physical Activity 
Guidelines for Americans Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS. 
(a) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—At least every 10 years, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall publish 
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a report entitled ‘‘Physical Activity Guidelines for 
Americans’’. Each such report shall contain physical 
activity information and guidelines for the general 
public, and shall be promoted by each Federal agen-
cy in carrying out any Federal health program. Not 
later than 5 years after the publication of the first 
such report, and every 10 years thereafter, the Sec-
retary shall publish a report highlighting the best 
practices and continuing issues in the physical activ-
ity arena, which may focus on a particular group, 
subsection, or other division of the general public or 
a particular issue relating to the physical activity of 
Americans. 
(2) BASIS OF GUIDELINES.—The information 
and guidelines contained in each report required 
under paragraph (1) shall be based on the prepon-
derance of the scientific and medical knowledge 
which is current at the time the report is prepared, 
and shall include guidelines for identified population 
subgroups, including children, if the preponderance 
of scientific and medical knowledge indicates those 
subgroups require different levels of physical activ-
ity. 
(b) APPROVAL BY SECRETARY.— 
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(1) REVIEW.—Any Federal agency that pro-
poses to issue any physical activity guidance for the 
general population or identified population sub-
groups shall submit the text of such guidance to the 
Secretary for a 60-day review period. 
(2) BASIS OF REVIEW.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—During the 60-day re-
view period established in paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall review and approve or dis-
approve such guidance to assure that the guid-
ance either is consistent with the ‘‘Physical Ac-
tivity Guidelines for Americans’’ or that the 
guidance is based on medical or new scientific 
knowledge which is determined to be valid by 
the Secretary. If after such 60-day review pe-
riod the Secretary has not notified the pro-
posing agency that such guidance has been dis-
approved, then such guidance may be issued by 
the agency. If the Secretary disapproves such 
guidance, it shall be returned to the agency. If 
the Secretary finds that such guidance is incon-
sistent with the ‘‘Physical Activity Guidelines 
for Americans’’ and so notifies the proposing 
agency, such agency shall follow the procedures 
set forth in this subsection before disseminating 
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review. If, pursuant to such review, the Sec-
retary approves such proposed physical activity 
guidance, such guidance may be issued by the 
Federal agency. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) The term ‘‘physical activity guidance 
for the general population’’ does not include 
any rule or regulation issued by a Federal agen-
cy. 
(B) The term ‘‘identified population sub-
groups’’ shall include, but not be limited to, 
groups based on factors such as age, sex, race, 
or physical disability. 
(c) EXISTING AUTHORITY NOT AFFECTED.—This 
section does not place any limitations on— 
(1) the conduct or support of any scientific or 
medical research by any Federal agency; or 
(2) the presentation of any scientific or medical 
findings or the exchange or review of scientific or 
medical information by any Federal agency. 
Æ 
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