BACK

Support the IMPACT Act in Congress and Help Promote Swimming

In 2007, a groundbreaking legislative initiative has come to fruition to get communities active and healthy through parks and recreation. By supporting the IMPACT Act in Congress (H.R. 2677), APSP members can help advance opportunities for swimming and other healthy lifestyles for all Americans. Public parks and recreation play a critical role in facilitating community wellness and quality of life. Learn how to take action to advance this initiative on Capitol Hill.

The Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity (IMPACT) Act addresses the public health problem of increasing rates of obesity, being overweight, and eating disorders, as well as their related serious and chronic conditions.

Work has been done to amend the legislative language to allow park and recreation agencies to be eligible entities to apply and compete for the grants that are outlined in the bill. Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) reintroduced the bill on June 13, 2007.

The grants fund community organizations to conduct a variety of activities, which have demonstrated some benefit for curbing obesity, being overweight, and eating disorders. These programs focus on providing specific community interventions, school-based activities, and health care delivery system programs, while focusing on education, outreach, and interventional techniques. This program is authorized for $60 million in fiscal year 2008.

"We should be able to get our association behind IMPACT and have swimming as one of the activities listed or used within this legislation," says Frank Goldstein of Chesapeake Aquatic Consultants LLC, an APSP member company.

HOW TO TAKE ACTION