The PLAY Every Day Act was a bill proposed to help promote the national recommendation of physical activity to kids, families, and communities across the United States. It was introduced in the Senate on February 15, 2007, by Sen. Thomas Harkin on behalf of himself and Sen. Hillary Clinton.1
The purpose of this Act was to help children, families, and communities achieve 60 minutes of physical activity every day, which is the national recommendation.
Congress made the following findings:
- Health care costs are rapidly rising.
- Total health care spending in 2004 was $1,800,000,000,000 and is expected to rise to $3,600,000,000,000 by 2014.
- The number one economic pressure on companies is health care costs for their employees.
- The obesity rate is rising every year.
- In 2004, 9,000,000 children over the age of 6 were obese.
- Very few schools offer daily physical education.
- Only 50% of schools offered intramural activities or clubs with physical activities.
- Only 28.5% of children participate in organized physical activity outside of school hours.
- An average of 48% of children walked or bicycled to school in 1969. But only 6% rode bicycles and 19% walked to school in 1999.
- From 1977 to 1995 adults walking declined by 40% and driving trips increased to 90%.
- Children in many neighborhoods do not have safe places to play outdoors.
- Public health, governmental, and scientific agencies recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
- Funding for a health program should be carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Grants should be available to increase the places available for physical activity; increase the opportunities for participation of children and families in quality play; and increase awareness about having at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.2
This bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. However, it never became a law.3