S 1810 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish physical activity guidelines for the general public, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

October 20, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. BROWNBACK, and Mr. UDALL of Colorado) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish physical activity guidelines for the general public, and for other purposes.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 ‘Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES.

(a) Report-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- At least every 5 years, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this Act referred to as the ‘Secretary’) shall publish a report entitled ‘Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans’. Each such report shall contain physical activity information and guidelines for the general public, and shall be promoted by each Federal agency in carrying out any Federal health program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) BASIS OF GUIDELINES- The information and guidelines contained in each report required under paragraph (1) shall be based on the preponderance of the scientific and medical knowledge which is current at the time the report is prepared.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Approval by Secretary-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REVIEW- Any Federal agency that proposes to issue any physical activity guidance for the general population or identified population subgroups shall submit the text of such guidance to the Secretary for a 60-day review period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) BASIS OF REVIEW-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- During the 60-day review period established in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall review and approve or disapprove such guidance to assure that the guidance either is consistent with the ‘Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans’ or that the guidance is based on medical or new scientific knowledge which is determined to be valid by the Secretary. If after such 60-day review period the Secretary has not notified the proposing agency that such guidance has been disapproved, then such guidance may be issued by the agency. If the Secretary disapproves such guidance, it shall be returned to the agency. If the Secretary finds that such guidance is inconsistent with the ‘Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans’ and so notifies the proposing agency, such agency shall follow the procedures set forth in this subsection before disseminating such proposal to the public in final form. If after such 60-day period, the Secretary disapproves such guidance as inconsistent with the ‘Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans’ the proposing agency shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) publish a notice in the Federal Register of the availability of the full text of the proposal and the preamble of such proposal which shall explain the basis and purpose for the proposed physical activity guidance;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) provide in such notice for a public comment period of 30 days; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) make available for public inspection and copying during normal business hours any comment received by the agency during such comment period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) REVIEW OF COMMENTS- After review of comments received during the comment period, the Secretary may approve for dissemination by the proposing agency a final version of such physical activity guidance along with an explanation of the basis and purpose for the final guidance which addresses significant and substantive comments as determined by the proposing agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) ANNOUNCEMENT- Any such final physical activity guidance to be disseminated under subparagraph (B) shall be announced in a notice published in the Federal Register, before public dissemination along with an address where copies may be obtained.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) NOTIFICATION OF DISAPPROVAL- If after the 30-day period for comment as provided under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary disapproves a proposed physical activity guidance, the Secretary shall notify the Federal agency submitting such guidance of such disapproval, and such guidance may not be issued, except as provided in subparagraph (E).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) REVIEW OF DISAPPROVAL- If a proposed physical activity guidance is disapproved by the Secretary under subparagraph (D), the Federal agency proposing such guidance may, within 15 days after receiving notification of such disapproval under subparagraph (D), request the Secretary to review such disapproval. Within 15 days after receiving a request for such a review, the Secretary shall conduct such review. If, pursuant to such review, the Secretary approves such proposed physical activity guidance, such guidance may be issued by the Federal agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) DEFINITIONS- In this subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) The term ‘physical activity guidance for the general population’ does not include any rule or regulation issued by a Federal agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) The term ‘identified population subgroups’ shall include, but not be limited to, groups based on factors such as age, sex, race, or physical disability.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Existing Authority Not Affected- This section does not place any limitations on--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the conduct or support of any scientific or medical research by any Federal agency; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the presentation of any scientific or medical findings or the exchange or review of scientific or medical information by any Federal agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink