SGMA has put out an all points bulletin to the sporting goods industry to rally support for P.E.4LIFE’s 5th Annual National P.E. Day and the associated lobbying efforts to support funding for physical education programs in schools. At issue is a cut in funding for the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress (PEP) Bill.

“This is a particularly important year for our lobbying efforts due to the threat to the PEP funding,” said Tom Cove, president and CEO of SGMA International, in a conversation with Sports Executive Weekly. “It’s important that we bring a lot of passion to the effort this year. And it’s important we bring the broadest group of SGMA member companies to participate in the lobbying activities.”

Of particular concern to P.E.4LIFE and SGMA is the proposed cut for the PEP Bill in President Bush’s Fiscal Year 2006 budget. The budget proposal reflects a $19 million cut in the PEP Bill – from $74 million in FY 2005 to $55 million in FY 2006 – and the President also proposes that the PEP Bill be cut from the federal budget altogether by Fiscal Year 2008 because he wants to allocate the funds to “other priorities.”

The main lobbying day will be Wednesday, May 4. There will be a Welcome Reception on Tuesday, May 3 – from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Cabinet Room of the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel (1127 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.; Washington, D.C.). That will be followed by the P.E.4LIFE Awards Dinner – from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the East Room of the Mayflower.

During the lobbying efforts on “the Hill,” attendees will be in small groups, with each group meeting that day with U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators. These efforts are to garner their support for PEP. By day’s end, the goal is to conduct more than 100 meetings with Representatives, Senators, and their staffs.

Mr. Cove told SEW that he has seen a tremendous commitment from SGMA member companies, not only through executive participation, but also by helping to involve key elite athletes under contract with a number of participating companies.

“If we don’t put up a strong stand this year, we’ll have trouble keeping PEP alive,” said Cove.