PHIT America and the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) reported that 40 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have agreed to be co-sponsors of the PHIT (Physical Health Investment Today) Bill.
The goal of the PHIT Bill (H.R. 956) is to encourage more physical activity for all Americans by making it more affordable — through the use of pre-tax dollars to play sports, fitness and recreation activities. The PHIT Bill’s primary Congressional sponsor is Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI). The legislation is truly bipartisan. Of the 40 co-sponsors, 21 are Democrats and 19 are Republicans.
“This legislation will benefit all Americans of all ages in all 50 states,” states Jim Baugh, PHIT America founder.
“Having a fairly equal split of Democrats and Republicans signed on to PHIT is proof that physical activity has no political affiliation,” says Bill Sells, SFIA’s vice president of government relations.
If passed, the PHIT Bill would change the IRS definition of a ‘medical expense’ to include physical activity as a form of prevention. Expanding the medical expense definition would make physical activity expenses reimbursable using pre-tax dollars in Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts and would allow consumers to deduct physical activity costs once they meet the 7.5 percent of income threshold on medical expenses.
Eligible expenses would include sports and fitness equipment solely used to participate in a physical activity, gym memberships, fitness & exercise classes, youth & adult sports’ registration fees, and sports instruction/lessons/clinics. A release of an NBC News story last week about the magnitude of the inactivity pandemic and obesity crisis in the U.S. and around the world helps underscore the level of importance of the PHIT Act.
“With physical activity in decline and obesity on the rise in America, the PHIT Bill would help encourage physical activity as a way to reverse this trend and reduce health care costs,” notes Baugh.
“Americans will reap long-term benefits from the PHIT Bill. As this country’s obesity /overweight problems and related chronic illnesses continue to grow, PHIT is a step in the right direction towards promoting physical activity across the United States,” states Sells. “This legislation has the potential to alter our health care model from one of treatment to one of prevention of illness. PHIT would encourage all Americans to invest in exercise and physical activities as a way to improve their health.”
The 40 co-sponsors of PHIT are Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Rep. Robert A. Brady (D-PA), Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Rep. Michael F. Doyle (D-PA), Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA), Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-CA), Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), Rep. John Kline (R-MN), Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA), Rep. David Loebsack (D-IA), Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Rep. Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA), Rep. David P. Roe (R-TN), Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Dennis A. Ross (R-FL), Rep. Jon Runyan (R-NJ), Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-PA), Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), Rep. David Scott (D-GA), Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Rep. David Valadao (R-CA).
