Members of Congress Join with NFL Players, American Heart Association and NASPE to Highlight Importance of P.E. in Schools

Posted By American Heart Association

3/26/2009

NFL players from the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and obesity expert Dr. Kenneth Cooper yesterday joined forces with Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), U.S. Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Zach Wamp (R-TN), and Jay Inslee (D-WA), and representatives from the American Heart Association and National Association for Sport and Physical Education for a press conference to call for passage of the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act, which would combat childhood obesity by strengthening physical education programs throughout the country.  The bill, which would amend the No Child Left Behind Act, was re-introduced in Congress this week.

The event was held on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., with nearly 100 eager and excited area school children donning matching NFL t-shirts, along with several teachers, principals and parents.  The American Heart Association’s HT High Flyers, a youth jump rope team from Pennsylvania, kicked things off with a spectacular demonstration of their athletic jump rope skills.

American Heart Association spokesperson and local cardiologist Dr. Robert DiBianco got the crowd pumped and ready as he spoke about the need to build awareness and educate our lawmakers about pending legislation and also introduced each guest speaker.  Senator Harkin warned that today’s youth could live shorter lives than their parents, while Reps. Kind, Wamp and Inslee stressed the importance of quality physical education in schools. NASPE Executive Director Charlene Burgeson, Arthur Blank and Dr. Cooper also spoke about their commitment to fighting childhood obesity.

Redskins’ cornerback DeAngelo Hall, Ravens’ linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and several other players and team cheerleaders led the children in jumping jacks, stretching and other exercises and signed autographs.  The event was covered in several local, national and Capitol Hill news outlets including the Associated Press, ESPN, Washington Post, Cox Broadcasting, FOX, The Hill, Roll Call, Congressional Quarterly, NFL Network and Washington Times.

With work on education reform expected this year, sponsors and supporters are hopeful the bill will move through Congress soon.  For more information visit www.fitkidsact.org.