The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) applauded U.S. Senators John Thune (R-SD), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) for introducing the Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2015 (PHIT Act), the Senate’s companion bill to HR1218, introduced in the House of Representatives in March.
“This is a bi-partisan effort in both Houses of Congress,” NSGA Director of Public Affairs Larry Weindruch said. “NSGA is a vocal and active supporter of PHIT because it removes the cost barrier preventing many Americans from being active, fit and healthy.
“We urge our members to contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives to put their support behind this important effort,” Weindruch said.
The House bill has demonstrated bipartisan support, with 21 Democrats and 18 Republicans signing onto the bill. Click here to see the current list of House co-sponsors.
The PHIT Act would amend the IRS code to include as a medical expense physical activity as a form of prevention. This would allow individuals to use pre-tax dollars in Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for expenses such as health club fees, the cost of exercise equipment, the cost for children to participate in youth sports leagues as well as the equipment required to play those sports.
A World Health Organization study found that every dollar the U.S. invests in physical activity will result in a $3.20 reduction in future medical spending. With physical activity in decline and obesity on the rise in America, the PHIT Act would help encourage physical activity as a way to reverse this trend, lower the incidence of preventable chronic disease and reduce health care costs.
Click here to contact your U.S. Representative. To contact your U.S. Senators, please click here and indicate your state in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
For more information on how you can show your support for this important piece of legislation, please contact NSGA Director of Public Affairs Larry Weindruch, (847) 296-6742, Ext. 1290, or email: lweindruch@nsga.org.
