Last Updated: February 26th 2010, 111th Congress
 

|   Physical Activity / Built Environment

BILL

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, S. 1/ H.R. 1

Obesity-related provisions are included under the ‘Prevention and Wellness Fund’ section of the bill and amend the Public Health Service Act; the provisions call for community health and evidence -based interventions in obesity and other chronic diseases; H.R. 1 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services provide both houses of Congress, and the HELP, Energy and Commerce, and House and Senate Appropriations Committees a report within one year evaluating programs and making recommendations on future spending on prevention and wellness activities for chronic diseases.

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, S. 275/ H.R. 2

Under Title IV ‘Strengthening Quality of Care and Health Outcomes’ a demonstration project is authorized to develop a comprehensive model for reducing childhood obesity; grants will be awarded to eligible entities such as Indian tribes, accredited educational institutions, federally qualified health centers, local health departments, health care providers and community based-organizations; grantees shall carry out community-based activities including partnerships with community organizations and schools that are designed to promote healthy eating behaviors and physical activity, carry-out educational counseling and provide training and supervision for commmunity health workers.

Under Title IV ‘Strengthening Quality of Care and Health Outcomes’ a demonstration project is authorized to develop a comprehensive model for reducing childhood obesity; grants will be awarded to eligible entities such as Indian tribes, accredited educational institutions, federally qualified health centers, local health departments, health care providers and community based-organizations; grantees shall carry out community-based activities including partnerships with community organizations and schools that are designed to promote healthy eating behaviors and physical activity, carry-out educational counseling and provide training and supervision for commmunity health workers.

Healthy Communities Act of 2009, H.R. 3144

The legislation would amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of HHS to make five-year grants to community partnerships for programs to combat obesity. A community obesity prevention program to address all the different components of fighting obesity and to include: (1) physical exercise and a physical activity environment; (2) nutritional counseling and nutritional environment activities; (3) education to provide to the community information about the importance of eating healthily and maintaining a balanced diet and of being physically fit; and (4) an evidence-based curriculum using the NIH's Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition (We Can) program and curriculum to guide the program.

Lifelong Improvements in Food and Exercise (LIFE) Act, H.R. 4452

The bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of HHS, acting through the CDC, to carry out a national program to conduct and support activities regarding individuals who are overweight or obese in order to make progress toward the goal of significantly reducing obesity in the United States. Requires such activities to include: (1) training health professionals; (2) educating the public; and (3) developing and demonstrating intervention strategies for use at worksites and in community settings.

MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2009, H.R. 194/S.958

The proposal would guarantee comprehensive health coverage for all children born after 2009; it would allow for demonstration grants to identify behavioral risk factors for obesity among children, as well as needed clinical preventive and screening benefits for those targeted children; ongoing support would be provided to those targeted families; grantees would carry out community-based activities including partnerships with community organizations and schools that are designed to promote healthy eating behaviors and physical activity.

Obesity Prevention, Treatment, and Research Act of 2009, S. 1060

The bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to require the HHS Secretary to convene a United States Council on Overweight-Obesity Prevention. Council duties would include developing strategies to comprehensively prevent, treat, and reduce overweight and obesity. It also requires the Secretary to establish a grant demonstration and pilot program to address overweight and obesity issues, including through promoting increased physical activity and healthier lifestyle, and to promote health behaviors for women and children in target populations. Further, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to update and reform federal oversight of food and beverage labeling, and amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide additional funding to make free fresh fruits and vegetables available in elementary schools. Lastly, it would amend Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and Block Grants to include certain services related to overweight and obesity, including diet and exercise counseling, medical nutrition therapy services, and weight and body mass index (BMI) measurement and monitoring.

Serve America Act, H.R. 1388

This legislation reauthorizes and reforms several national service laws; among them, it provides for the Healthy Future Corps program that identifies and addresses health needs within communities through health education, assisting in access to health services, translation services, rural health services, and addressing childhood obesity through in-school and after-school physical activities.

To Amend the Public Health Service Act to Authorize a Community-Based Overweight and Obesity Prevention Program, H.R. 3894

The Secretary shall establish a community-based overweight and obesity prevention program consisting of awarding grants and contracts to: stakeholders such as hospitals, universities, health departments, employers and health insurance companies; residents of the community; and representatives of public and private entities that have a history of working within and serving the community. The programs must be evidence-based and the entity must match grants with non-federal sources.

Wellness Trust Act, H.R. 1940

The legislation amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a Wellness Trust to broaden the prevention workforce and public health infrastructure; the bill would be headed by a Trust Fund Board of 7 members appointed by the President; within the first year, the board would report to Congress on broadening the prevention work force, certain prevention goals and identify current funds for prevention; prevention priorities would be updated annually; a comprehensive infrastructure for a wellness system would be created.