Current Physical Activity Legislation

I. Workplace Health Improvement Program (WHIP) - S. 913 Harkin (D-IA). Cornyn (R-TX), H.R. 21064/28/2009 Kind (D-WI)-WHIP amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand workplace health incentives by equalizing the tax consequences of employee athletic facility use. This legislation helps small businesses to provide wellness benefits to their workers by correcting an inequity in the tax code. Currently, if an employer provides an on-site fitness center, employees are not taxed on this benefit. However, if an employer wishes to provide their employees a stipend to join an off site fitness center (regardless of if it is owned and operated by a for profit or not for profit organization), the employee is taxed on said benefit. The WHIP Act allows employees to receive up to $900 for an off site wellness benefit without it being considered taxable income. In addition, it allows employers to deduct the const of providing off-site fitness center benefits to their employees.

Download a WHIP Fact Sheet

II. Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 - This bill will reauthorize the Nation's Surface Transportation Bill- NCPPA advocates for increased funding in Transportation Act for programs that promote physical activity. Some of the primary physical activity related components are as follows:

• Transportation Enhancements (TE) Program - Established in 1991, this fund has helped communities across America to build trails and fun pedestrian and bicycle facilities. There are many categories of community projects allowed under TE, however ped/bike projects annually account for approximately 50% of the available TE funding. In recent years, advocates, including NCPPA have had to ward off attempts to eliminate TE funding.
• Recreational Trails Program (RTP) - RTP is a relatively new program, having been funded for the first time in 2005. States may apply for RTP funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized use.
• Safe Routes to School - provides funding for to provide safe ways for elementary and secondary school students to walk and bike to school.

Click here to access a Transportation Fact Sheet

(Published by the National Recreation and Park Association)

Click here to access America Bikes' In Depth Analysis of the Committee's Draft Bill

III. Land and Water Conservation Act - NCPPA advocates for increased funding of the state assistance portion of the Land and Water Conservation Act. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965 was enacted to help preserve, develop, and assure access to outdoor recreation facilities to strengthen the health of U.S. citizens. The Act recognized the cultural and spiritual benefits of outdoor recreation in addition to the physical. Congress created the Land and Water Conservation Fund as a funding source to meet the growing public consciousness of health and environmental issues.

• Over the past 40 years, the LWCF has appropriated over $4 billion in matching grants to states and localities for the planning, acquisition and development of outdoor recreation opportunities in the United States.
• Over 41,000 projects have been funded by this federal/state partnership in every geographic region of the U.S, in every county, and almost every locality that support the acquisition of open space for park lands and/or the development of outdoor recreation facilities.
• Seventy-five percent of the total funds obligated have gone to locally sponsored projects to provide close-to-home recreation opportunities that are readily accessible to America's youth, adults, senior citizens and the physically or mentally challenged.
• The program has helped to create millions of physical activity opportunities through the creation of thousands of athletic and playing fields, hiking trails, campgrounds, swimming and boating facilities, hunting and nature

Click here for an LWCF Fact Sheet

IV. Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) - PEP is a competitive grant program managed by the U.S. Department of Education. It is the only means of federal funding that supports physical education in grades K-12. The program provides grants to schools and community based organizations to initiate, expand and improve physical education programs for America's youth in order to help them make progress toward meeting state standards for physical education. The funds may be used to provide equipment and support to enable students to participate actively in physical education activities as well as to support staff and teacher training and education.

NCPPA is thrilled to announce that for the first time in six years, the President's proposed budget has included funding for the PEP Bill. President Obama has included $78 million for PEP in his FY10 budget-this would be level funding to what the program received in FY09. Physical Activity advocates are asking Congress to increase PEP funding to $100 million in 2010.

Click Here to Visit the US Dept. of Education PEP Website

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