The 15th annual National Health Through Fitness Day in Washington, D.C. has celebrity appeal. On Wednesday, Mar. 5, one Heisman Trophy winner (Herschel Walker) and
two U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists (softball pitcher Jennie Finch and
swimmer Cullen Jones) will be a part of National Health Through Fitness
Day in the nation’s capital.

Other celebrities scheduled to attend
this day of advocacy (www.getinvolved.sfia.com) are former big league
pitcher Tommy John; former NFL Super Bowl-winning Baltimore Ravens
kicker Matt Stover; two-time WNBA and NCAA women’s basketball champion
Swin Cash; former four-time NFL All-Pro Washington Redskins linebacker
Ken Harvey; former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson; 800-meter
World Championship medalist Brenda Martinez; U.S. Olympic water polo
silver medalist Peter Hudnut; Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam;
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin; former NFL defensive back
John Booty; MLS DC United star Bobby Boswell; and Baltimore Ravens
cornerback Lardarius Webb.

On Mar. 5, PHIT America and SFIA will assemble a series of small groups featuring well known athletes, sporting goods and fitness manufacturers, physical educators, and association leaders for a series of face-to-face discussions with U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators about the importance of federal funding to (1) support quality physical education in schools and (2) encourage more physical activity for families by making it more affordable.

The PHIT America group will ‘walk the halls of Congress’ generating support for two specific physical activity initiatives:

1.)    The PHIT (Personal Health Investment Today) Act:  If passed, the PHIT legislation would change the IRS definition of a ‘medical expense’ to include physical activity as a form of prevention. Expanding the definition would make physical activity expenses reimbursable using pre-tax dollars in Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts.

2.)    The Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP):  PEP provides grants to school districts to help revive P.E. programs.  PEP has been passed and funded every year since Fiscal Year 2001.  Continued passage of PEP is a priority!
“Rising inactivity levels in the U.S., where 80.4 million Americans are currently inactive, underscore the urgency of National Health Through Fitness Day,” said PHIT America Founder Jim Baugh.
Your Voice Can Be Heard By Advocating Now

Listed below is a link that allows the general public to send a personalized electronic letter to their local Congressman and their state's two U.S. Senators – seeking support for PHIT and PEP.
http://www.phitamerica.org/Advocate.htm

“Please advocate now and help this cause. Share the link with friends, family, and colleagues,” declared Baugh.
“National support of PHIT and PEP can make a difference in reducing health care expenses and reversing inactivity in America,” said SFIA’s Vice President of Government Relations Bill Sells.

Founded in January 2013, PHIT America is responding to the inactivity and obesity crisis by leading “A Movement for a Fit and Healthy America.” PHIT America promotes grass-roots fitness and sports initiatives, including development of high-quality physical education programs in schools. Recent Physical Activity Council research shows children in P.E. are three to four times more likely to be active outside of school.