Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2024): On May 1st President Biden announced May is Physical Fitness and Sports Month and highlighted the cost and access barriers to activity many Americans face.
“Today, less than half of all Americans live within a half-mile of a park. Tens of millions of children do not have access to a playground within a 10-minute walk of their home. Cash-strapped schools are too often cutting physical education programs. Youth sports leagues can be expensive, leaving too many kids with few options. The United States of America can do better.”
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association applauds the Administration’s commitment to active lifestyles and recognition of the barriers to healthy activity. SFIA is working to move two policies through Congress to address the cost and access barriers. The PHIT Act will lower costs of activity by allowing consumers to use funds in pre-tax medical accounts to pay for them. PHIT is a tax bill, and more than half of the members of the top Congressional tax committee are co-sponsors of the legislation. The Youth Sports Facility Act is draft legislation to expand the definition for eligible uses of Economic Development Assistance (EDA) grants to include youth sports and recreation projects. EDA received $468 million in funding in 2024 but none of the money flowed to youth sports & recreation projects.
For more information or for questions, please contact Bill Sells, SVP, Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].