The Personal Health Investment Today Act (PHIT) has been re-introduced in the House as H.R. 3109 by Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), along with Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Darrin LaHood (R-IL) as co-sponsors. SFIA issued a statement endorsing the legislation.

According to the SFIA, the PHIT Act aims to help Americans save money on activity-related expenses (i.e., gym membership, sports league fees, equipment, fitness classes, etc.) to lower the financial barrier between Americans and a healthy, active lifestyle. SFIA commended Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) for his leadership on PHIT and Ways & Means members, Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Darrin LaHood (R-IL) for joining Congressman Kind as original co-sponsors.

“Staying active is the best preventative medicine, and it’s especially important for kids and teens as they build healthy habits,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “Unfortunately, for many families, cost can be a barrier to participating in physical activities and youth sports. The PHIT Act is a commonsense way to invest in a healthy future for our children by making it more affordable for families to ensure physical activity is a regular part of their lives.”

SFIA noted that COVID has had a major impact on activity as many kids’ sports were canceled and health clubs were largely closed during the pandemic. The pandemic also highlighted that sedentary people have a higher incidence of underlying conditions that contribute to obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Getting more people active also offers lower healthcare spending,

“Activity in America has suffered during COVID, and we have seen an increase in both physical and mental health issues because of it,” said SFIA CEO and president, Tom Cove. “Poor health in the sedentary population is not news but the pandemic has emphasized the importance of activity in a healthy lifestyle as inactive people had far worse outcomes and put more strain on our healthcare system. We commend Congressmen Kind, Sewell, Kelly, and LaHood for their leadership on the PHIT Act to promote health by lowering the cost of activity.”

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Photo courtesy DeMarini