Senate passes anti-obesity bill.

In early December, the U.S. Senate passed the proposed Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act (IMPACT Act), which provides $60 million in federal grants to assist communities that plan and implement programs engaging and encouraging citizens to eat healthier and exercise more. All city, county and state governments would be eligible for IMPACT grants. Additionally, educational agencies, accredited university or colleges, community-based organizations and local city planning agencies would also be eligible for the grant program. Language within the bill requires applicants to outline the manner in which they will coordinate activities with appropriate state and local authorities, including state and local park and recreation departments.

Eligible applications include projects that:

* Involve city planning and transportation initiatives, and environmental changes to promote and increase physically active forms of transit;

* Form partnerships with entities, faith-based organizations and agencies providing recreation services to establish programs at their facilities for after-school and weekend activities

* Form partnerships with day care facilities to establish programs that promote healthy eating behaviors and physical activity; and

* Various school-based activities to encourage physical activity and healthy eating habits.

You can view the Senate-passed bill through the following web site: http://thomas.loc.gov/.

"Today, the Senate has taken a key step to address one of the nation's fastest growing health care epidemics," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and sponsor of the bill. Commenting that obesity is a "national crisis," Frist continued, "Obesity is debilitating millions of Americans, and indeed, it has reached epidemic proportions."

The House version of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.), was introduced last February and has yet to be approved. It would provide an additional $40 million for the "establishment of a coordinated school health program." Eligible activities under this section of the bill include developing physical education and activity curriculum; planning and implementing a healthy lifestyle curriculum; and the planning and implementing of after-hours physical activities. Vow the House version of the bill through the following web site: http://thomas.loc.gov/.

The National Recreation and Park Association's Public Policy office is working on getting this bill approved by the House. During the next few months, NRPA plans to unveil a plan to put obesity and physical inactivity front and center before the presidential candidates for 2004.

RELATED ARTICLE: Judge reverses Bush Administration's policies: snowmobiles banned from yellowstone.

On Tuesday Dec. 16 a federal district judge upheld the Clinton administrations ruling to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park, by revoking the Bush administration's regulations more than 950 snowmobiles a day in the park.

According to a New York Times report. Judge Emmet G. Sullivan wrote in his verdict that The gap between the decision made in 2001, and the decision made in 2003 is stark: In 2001, the rule making process culminated in a finding that snowmobiling so adversely impacted the wildlife and resources of the parks that all snowmobile use must be halted. Ascent three years later, the rule-making process culminated in the conclusion that nearly 1,000 snowmobiles will be allowed to enter the park each day."

The ruling was embraced by environmental groups, including the Greater Yellow-stone Coalition, who opposed the Bush administration's snowmobile rule. In their press release, Denis P. Galvin, a former deputy director of the National Park Service, said "The Park Service decision to phase out snowmobiles was founded on law, based on a decade of scientific study, and strongly supported by the public. Replacing snowmobiles with snow coaches preserved public access while improving air quality and wildlife management. It restored some measure of natural quiet. That decision continues to be favored by the public. To abandon it, and condone an increase in Snowmobile use, is simply irrational. As a nation we owe more to Yellow-stone." For more information on the ruling, log an to www.greateryellowstone.org.