NCPPA Policy Platform: 113th Congress

The Policy Platform of the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (NCPPA) supports policies that provide opportunities for all Americans to participate in physical activity throughout their lives.  

NCPPA Policy Platform for the 113^th Congress 

Not yet introduced in the 113^th Congress

EMPOWER AMERICAN CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE AT LEAST 60 MINUTES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EVERY DAY

Physical activity improves student performance and overall health. NCPPA believes that increasing opportunities for physical education and physical activity before, during, and after school should be an urgent national priority. NCPPA also supports policies creating greater opportunities for physical activity in early childhood settings and during non-school days with family and friends.

• Increase quality and quantity of physical education in schools and community-based partnerships:
  • Legislation/Regulations - Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act; Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grants in appropriations; Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization; Promoting Health for Youth Skills in Classrooms and in Life Act; school wellness policies updates and implementation; integrate Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on physical education in schools into platform
  • Facilitate shared use of school facilities
  • Increase adult and youth physical fitness surveillance
    • Legislation – High School Data Transparency Act
  • Promote physical activity in early childhood settings:
    • Legislation/Regulations - Child and Adult Care Food Program regulations; Healthy Kids from Day One Act; Afterschool for America’s Children Act (21^st Century Learning Centers Reauthorization); Child Care and Development Block Grant reauthorization

BUILD A HEALTHIER, MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE WORKFORCE

Worksite policies promoting physical activity are good for employers and employees. NCPPA supports policies that encourage employers to offer physical activity opportunities before, during, and/or after the workday. NCPPA is dedicated to making supportive work environments for physical activity the cultural norm.

• Provide tax incentives for employer provided offsite fitness center memberships to employees:
  • Legislation - Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act

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  • Legislation - Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act
  • Legislation - Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention (HeLP) America Act  
  • Regulations - Nondiscriminatory wellness programs in group health plans

• Allow Americans to use pre-tax health savings accounts for organized individual and team sports, fitness and exercise, recreation, and other physical activities:

• Create a tax credit for employers offering an employee wellness program:

• Facilitate the implementation of responsible regulations relating to the use of financial incentives for lowering employee health insurance premiums

• Collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthier Worksite Initiative
• Advise and assess progress of the CEO Pledge

INTEGRATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COUNSELING AND PRIMARY CARE

The American health care system includes barriers that often prevent physicians from discussing physical activity in a primary care or clinical setting. NCPPA believes that the system must be transformed to facilitate more conversations about physical activity between patient and physician. Furthermore, NCPPA supports greater data collection and tracking related to physical activity and physical fitness and adequate training for health care professionals.

• Establish exercise as a vital sign by incorporating physical activity into electronic health records and reimbursement schemes
• Classify exercise counseling as a reimbursable Essential Health Benefit and an effective preventive measure according to the United States Preventive Services Task Force

CREATE AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

American transportation policy has evolved into a system that does not support multi-model transportation, including active transportation opportunities such as bicycling and walking. As a result, millions of Americans are forced to rely on a vehicle for every trip away from the home. NCPPA advocates for retaining current funding levels of programs, policies, and projects to enable active transportation.

• Work to restore cuts and local control for the 2014 MAP-21 reauthorization (transportation bill):
  • Legislation/Initiatives - Safe Routes to School; Complete Streets; Transportation Enhancements
  • Support Red Field to Green Field initiatives
  • Increase evaluation and surveillance of active transportation

INVEST IN PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS

Generations of Americans have relied on parks and green spaces for physical activity. Current economic conditions, however, threaten the continued maintenance of many parks and the programs they support. NCPPA supports greater funding for park and recreation programs.

• Support parks and green spaces:
  • Legislation/Initiatives - Healthy Kids Outdoors Act; America’s Great Outdoors initiative; and Let’s Move Outside
  • Increase funding for park and recreation programs:
    • Legislation - Land and Water Conservation Fund; Urban Revitalization and Livable      Communities (URLC) Act; level funding for national parks in appropriations

PROMOTE THE NATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PLAN

The National Physical Activity Plan is an important resource for health policymakers. NCPPA is committed to educating health policymakers about opportunities to translate the National Physical Activity Plan into a broad spectrum and fundamental component of public health strategies. NCPPA also advocates for meaningful funding of these opportunities.

• Support public health infrastructure as critical for promoting and supporting physical activity opportunities for all Americans
• Support policy, programmatic, and other system changes to ensure that physical activity opportunities are accessible to all populations, including persons with disabilities
• Develop public health surveillance systems that inform prevention activities and decision-making related to obesity and physical activity
• Promote educational policy goals through coordinated school health programs, working with educational departments to increase physical education in the school environment
• Promote partnerships with planners, transportation, and developers to create mixed-use, healthy communities that are walkable and provide opportunities for physical activity for all populations

OVERARCHING ISSUES

• Revise and update of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, either through legislative or regulatory opportunities:
  • Legislation- Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Act
• Increase surveillance for physical activity and aerobic fitness
• Sync national policies with Institute Of Medicine (IOM) report recommendations
• Support and provide comment on the Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Walking