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Parks and Recreation Health Promotion Legislation advocated

From the National Recreation and Park Association

This Spring two ground-breaking legislative initiatives have come to fruition that would enable communities to become active and healthy through parks and recreation: The Play Every Day Act, and the Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act (IMPACT). NRPA is committed to advancing opportunities for healthy lifestyles and livable communities for all Americans.

Public parks and recreation plays a critical role in facilitating community wellness and quality of life. Please take action to advance these initiatives on Capitol Hill by contacting your Representative and Senators.

*Support the Play Every Day Act in the House (H.R. 2045) and Senate (S. 651)*

The Play Every Day Bill helps promote the national recommendation of physical activity to kids, families, and communities across the country. The bill supports the development of a well-validated community assessment tool, a "community play index" that can measure the policy, program or environmental barriers in communities to youth participating in physical activity. This Index will be used by communities to asses their own unique opportunities for kids to get physical activity and to identify the gaps that exist in providing the spaces and places for kids to play. In addition, the legislation assists coalitions to use the "community play index" to craft plans to promote physical activity and wellness in communities.

Along with the two other co-convenors of the Partnership for PLAY Every Day, NRPA recently hosted a Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill to promote the bill. The briefing was a tremendous success; new co-sponsors for the legislation were identified, over 75 Hill staffers and coalition partners attended, and new members of the Partnership for PLAY Every Day were announced.

The briefing, entitled "Helping to Prevent a Sedentary Generation of Youth" featured 3 community leaders from 2 cities representing physical education, the local YMCA, and the park and recreation department.

NRPA also orchestrated a letter of support for the legislation and garnered the signatures of over 55 organizations and corporations. The letter was delivered to Capitol Hill and will be circulated by the bill's cosponsors to generate additional Congressional support.

*Support the IMPACT Act in the House of Representatives (H.R. 2677)*

The "Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity (IMPACT) Act" addresses the growing public health problem of increasing rates of obesity, being overweight, and eating disorders, as well as the related serious chronic conditions. Due to its multifaceted nature, the bill takes a broad approach to avoid relying on a single solution to this complex problem. Where possible, the legislation appropriately focuses on programs and policies that have a strong evidence base. When such information is not available, the bill works to develop additional evidence through the use of rigorously evaluated demonstration projects. IMPACT takes a collaborative, rather than confrontational, approach with the private sector.

NRPA has been advocating for this bill since 2003. NRPA has been working with the primary bills sponsors, Rep Mary Bono (R-CA) and Senator Frist (R-TN) to amend the language in the bill to allow park and recreation agencies to be eligible entities to apply for and compete for the grants that our outlined in the bill. Rep. Bono reintroduced the bill on June 13. During the 109th Congress, former Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) sponsored this bill in the Senate. Physical activity and nutrition advocates are currently waiting for a new champion in the Senate for the bill.

Specifically, the grants fund community organizations and with new language added to the bill, now also include park and recreation agencies as well to conduct a variety of activities, which have demonstrated some benefit for curbing obesity, being overweight, and eating disorders. These programs focus on providing specific community interventions, school-based activities, and health care delivery system programs, while focusing on education, outreach, and interventional techniques. This program is authorized for $60 million in FY08.

HOW TO TAKE ACTION

Ask your Senators and U.S. Representatives to co-sponsor the Play Every Day Act. Additionally, ask your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor the IMPACT Act. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and get connected to the offices of your federal legislators. Ask to speak to the staff that handles community health issues. Learn who your members of congress are by going to www.congress.org .

Additional Resources:

View a Dear Colleague letter in the House gathering support for the Play Every Day Act in the House: http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=5927

View a support letter for the IMPACT Act from national organizations: http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=5926

*SUPPORT THE YOUTH SPORTS WEEK RESOLUTION (H. RES 442)*

Call your Member of Congress and encourage them to join over 50 other Representatives in their support for the Youth Sports Week Resolution (H. Res. 442). This Resolution establishes the fourth week of July as National Youth Sports Week. The numerous benefits reaped by children's involvement in sports - better grades, excellent interpersonal skills and a healthier lifestyle - are especially important at a time when an increasing number of children are battling childhood obesity. The Resolution recognizes that NRPA has designated July as Parks and Recreation Month and has therefore declared youth sports week to take place during the month of July.

For additional information contact NRPA Public Policy at 202-887-0290, or email mphillips@nrpa.org.

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