HR 3144 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Public Health Service Act to promote obesity prevention, including proper nutrition and exercise.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 9, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mrs. DAHLKEMPER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Public Health Service Act to promote obesity prevention, including proper nutrition and exercise.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Healthy Communities Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003-2006, for children aged 6-11 years and 12-19 years, the prevalence of being overweight was 17 percent and 17.6 percent, respectively.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) According to the Surgeon General, overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) According to the Surgeon General, overweight and obesity are associated with heart disease, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, stroke, arthritis, breathing problems, and psychological disorders, such as depression.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) According to the Surgeon General, an estimated 300,000 deaths per year may be attributable to obesity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2000, the total cost of obesity in the United States was estimated to be $117 billion.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) According to the Dietary Guidelines produced by the Department of Agriculture, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and calcium-rich foods, while reducing saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, added sugars, and excess calories and reducing obesity could dramatically improve Americans’ health and well-being.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) According to the Surgeon General, nearly half of young people aged 12-21 are not vigorously active on a regular basis. Yet, regular physical activity improves strength, builds lean muscle, and decreases body fat.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. COMMUNITY OBESITY PREVENTION PROGRAM.

Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating the second and third sections 399R as sections 399S and 399T, respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 399U. COMMUNITY OBESITY PREVENTION PROGRAM.

‘(a) In General- The Secretary shall make 5-year grants to community partnerships for programs to combat obesity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Partnership Members- To be eligible to seek a grant under this section, at minimum, a community partnership shall include members representing each of the following areas:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) Hospitals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) School districts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) Early childhood care providers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) Local governments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) Health insurance companies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) Pediatricians.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) Other health professionals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) Local employers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Funding Requirements- To be eligible for funding under this section, a program shall comply with each of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) EXECUTIVE COUNCIL-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The program shall have an executive council composed of one partnership member from each of the areas listed in subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The executive council shall be responsible for governing, overseeing, and managing the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) The executive council shall meet monthly to discuss governing the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) The executive council shall have subcommittees composed of partnership members representing a variety of community participants in order to involve as many people as possible.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) STEERING COMMITTEE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The program shall have a steering committee composed of, at minimum, the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) Local health groups who engage in obesity-related programming.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) Local environmental groups who work on urban planning and forming ‘livable communities’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) Local recreational facilities that engage in obesity-related programming.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) Representatives of each of the partnership members.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(v) Representatives of local restaurants or grocery stores that offer healthy food options.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(vi) Representatives of local farmers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(vii) Other groups as deemed appropriate by the executive committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The steering committee shall meet at least 10 times per year and perform the following functions:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) Assess the progress of the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) Provide recommendations to the executive council concerning improvements to the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) PROGRAM COMPONENTS- The program shall address all the different components of fighting obesity and include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) Physical exercise and a physical activity environment encouraging--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) daily physical activity or exercise; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) community events based around physical activity or exercise.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) Nutritional counseling and nutritional environment activities including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) counseling from a registered dietitian;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) community healthy meal and snack ideas--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) at home;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) at school;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) at early childhood care; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(IV) at the workplace; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) alternatives to unhealthy food choices and availability of nutritious foods, including evaluation of potential food ‘deserts’ and farmers’ markets.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) Education to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) provide information about the importance of eating healthily and maintaining a balanced diet to the community;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) provide information about the importance of being physically fit; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) provide strategies for addressing varying individual capabilities to attain physical fitness.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) An evidence-based curriculum using the National Institutes of Health’s Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition (We Can) program and curriculum to guide the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) BEST PRACTICES- The program shall make use of evidence-based practices, strategies, programs, and policies in designing program guidelines.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) COMMUNICATIONS- The program shall develop a communications plan that involves the entire community, utilizing a wide variety of resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) OCCURRENCE OF PROGRAM- The program shall have both in-school and workplace wellness programs to encourage healthier behavior by all participants on a consistent basis.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) WELLNESS COORDINATOR- The program shall identify a person, to be known as the Wellness Coordinator, who will ensure that the program is being implemented to encourage healthy lifestyles. The Wellness Coordinator shall provide monthly updates to the executive committee and steering committee on the components of the program being implemented and progress made towards meeting goals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) ASSESSMENT- The executive committee and steering committee shall perform an assessment of the obesity problem in the respective community. The assessment shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) measurement of the extent of the problem; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) factors contributing to the problem.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(9) GOALS- Based on the assessment pursuant to paragraph (8), the executive committee, steering committee, and Wellness Coordinator shall work together to lay out achievable short- and long-term goals for reducing childhood obesity. These goals shall include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) Specific percentage decrease in rates of obese adults and children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) Specific percentage decrease in rates of overweight adults and children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) Specific percentage increase in rates of children attaining at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day and adults attaining at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) Specific percentage increase in improved nutrition among children and adults.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(10) REPORTS- Not later than 12 months after a program first receives funds under this section, and annually thereafter, the Wellness Coordinator shall submit a report to the Secretary on the success of the program. The report shall include measurement of the effectiveness of the program in achieving its goals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Prohibition Against Use of Funds for Administrative Expenses-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) PROHIBITION- The Secretary shall prohibit a community partnership awarded a grant under this section from using the grant to pay the administrative expenses of the partnership’s program to combat obesity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) EXCEPTIONS- Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may allow such community partnership to use the grant--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) to pay the salaries and benefits of staff responsible for implementing the program; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) to pay the costs of performing an assessment under subsection (c)(8).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Preference- In selecting grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to communities with high levels of obesity and related chronic diseases.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Application for Assistance During Subsequent Grant Years- To continue receiving assistance through a grant under this section, a community partnership shall submit a separate application to the Secretary at the beginning of each fiscal year during the grant period. At a minimum, an application so submitted for the second or subsequent year of a grant shall include a description of the partnership’s progress in the following areas:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) Reducing the number of people who are overweight and obese.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) Improving the number of people receiving the recommended daily allowance of nutritional food, including fruits and vegetables.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) Improving the number of people devoting at least 30 minutes a day to physical activity for adults and 60 minutes a day for children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Funding-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2011 to 2015.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF GRANT FOR FIRST YEAR- For the first year of a grant to a community partnership under this section, the Secretary may award not more than $100,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) MATCHING FUNDS- With respect to the costs of a program to combat obesity to be funded under this section, the Secretary may make a grant to a community partnership only if the partnership agrees to make available non-Federal contributions toward such costs in an amount that is not less than $1 for every $4 of Federal funds provided pursuant to this section.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink