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[Pages S3409-S3410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 515--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING MAY 2, 2010, AS
``NATIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT WEEK''
Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. Thune) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 515
Whereas the week beginning May 2, 2010, is observed as
National Physical Education and Sport Week;
Whereas a decline in physical activity has contributed to
an unprecedented epidemic of childhood obesity in the United
States, which has more than tripled since 1980;
Whereas regular physical activity is necessary to support
normal and healthy growth in children and is essential to
their continued health and well-being;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 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 it
occurs in children as young as 10 years old;
Whereas the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans,
published 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 and
Prevention, only 17 percent of high school students meet that
goal of 60 minutes of physical activity a day;
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, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 1 in 4 children in the United States does not
attend any school physical education classes and fewer than 1
in 4 children in the United States engage in 20 minutes of
vigorous physical activity each day;
[[Page S3410]]
Whereas teaching children about physical activity 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 the importance of being physically
active;
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 classes or the
equivalent for the entire school year, and 22 percent of
schools do not require students to take any physical
education classes at all;
Whereas, according to that survey, 13.7 percent of
elementary schools, 15.2 percent of middle schools, and 3.0
percent of high schools provided physical education at least
3 days per week, or the equivalent thereof, 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
improve children's attention and concentration and result in
higher test scores;
Whereas participation in sports teams and physical activity
clubs, which are often organized by schools and run outside
the regular school day, can improve students' grade point
averages, attachment to schools, educational aspirations, and
the likelihood of graduating;
Whereas participation in sports and other physical
activities also improves self-esteem and body image in
children and adults;
Whereas children and youth who take part in physical
activity and sports programs develop improved motor skills,
healthy lifestyles, improved social skills, a sense of fair
play, strong teamwork skills, and self-discipline and avoid
risky behaviors;
Whereas the social and environmental factors affecting
children are in the control of the adults and the communities
in which children live, and therefore the Nation shares a
collective responsibility in reversing the childhood obesity
trend;
Whereas efforts to improve the fitness level of children
who are not physically fit may also result in improvements in
academic performance; and
Whereas the Senate strongly supports efforts to increase
physical activity and participation of youth in sports: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week beginning May 2, 2010, as
``National Physical Education and Sport Week'';
(2) recognizes the central role of physical education and
sports in creating healthy lifestyles for all children and
youth;
(3) encourages school districts to implement local wellness
policies, as described in section 204 of the Child Nutrition
and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 1751 note),
that include ambitious goals for physical education, physical
activity, and other activities addressing the childhood
obesity epidemic and promoting child wellness; and
(4) encourages schools to offer physical education classes
to students and to 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.
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