SILVER SPRING, MD (March 28, 2019) – Momentum behind the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act continues, as 24 members of the House and Senate have signed on as cosponsors in the two weeks since it was introduced. PHIT remains very bipartisan, with 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats joining the lead sponsors, Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Mike Kelly (R-PA), in supporting this pro-activity, pro-health bill. The PHIT Act passed the House in July 2018, but failed to receive a vote in the Senate before they adjourned for the year.
SFIA launched the cosponsor drive the day after PHIT was introduced in House, during National Health Through Fitness Day. On March 13, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) hosted celebrity athletes, sports and fitness executives, medical professionals and active lifestyle advocates on Capitol Hill to address the need to help families with youth activity expenses. Attendees spent the day in meetings with members of Congress, promoting the PHIT Act and providing information on the far-reaching benefits of an active lifestyle, and how it serves as a disease prevention health measure.
“Earlier this year, the CDC reported that 90 percent of healthcare spending goes toward treating chronic disease and mental health issues,” stated SFIA’s Senior Vice President of Government & Public Affairs, Bill Sells. “The bottom line is: PHIT will increase activity! It’s time to pass this bill to reduce healthcare spending. We have great leadership in Congress and look forward to passing PHIT in 2019.”
As healthcare costs continue to rise and chronic disease continues to affect more Americans, SFIA is leading the effort to be proactive on the inactivity issue and promote a solution to reverse the sedentary lifestyle trend. Allowing Americans to pay for activity-related expenses through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) will create more opportunities for children to participate in youth leagues and activities, building the foundation for a future of healthy, active individuals.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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