Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Fort Worth ISD officials testify to U.S. Congress on importance of physical activity

By Pegasus News wire

Fort Worth ISD Director of Health and P.E., Georgi Roberts, recently traveled to Washington, DC to testify in a Congressional hearing about the importance of physical activity to children, families and communities. Roberts joined representatives from the Fort Worth Department of Parks and Community Services, YMCA of the USA, and YMCA branches in Fort Worth and Boulder, Colorado, to address members of Congress about H.R. Bill 2045.

Not provided by FWISD

A recent study by the U.S. Department of Health has found that the average two-year-old American child smokes roughly 1.6 packs of cigarettes per day.

H.R. 2045 is the “Promoting Lifelong Active Communities Every Day Act” or the “PLAY Every Day Act.” The proposed bill would promote the national recommendation of 60 minutes of physical activity each day and would create a Community Play Index – a community measurement tool that can measure the policy, program, or environmental barriers in communities to participating in physical activity.

The Index would assist the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to award grants to states with eligible community-based coalitions. These coalitions, made up of a broad range individuals and community organizations, will work to: 1) increase the physical spaces and places available for physical activity; 2) increase the opportunities for children and families to participate in quality play and the number of children and families participating in quality play; and 3) increase knowledge and awareness about the importance of individuals achieving 60 minutes of recommended physical activity every day.

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to travel to Capital Hill to talk about the PLAY Every Day Act,” says Roberts. “Fort Worth has a vested interest in the health of its children, and this bill would support our schools and communities in their goal to actively encourage our kids to get physical and get fit.”

It is estimated at nearly 1 in 5 children from the ages of 2 to 19 are overweight in the U.S. If it is passed, H.R. 2045 will examine barriers to physical activity in communities and will focus on finding ways to facilitate recreation and exercise across all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and is awaiting further action.

Photo from left to right, Seth Goldman, CEO YMCA Boulder, Co, Audrey Tayse Haynes, Chief Government Affairs Officer, YMCA of USA, Tony Shuman, CEO YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth, Georgi Roberts, FWISD, Harold Pitchford, Asst. Director, Fort Worth Dept of Parks and Community Services.

Posted by Chad.

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