HR0128 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0128 LRB098 08852 GRL 38982 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Risk factors for cardiovascular disease including high cholesterol and high blood pressure increase for obese youth; and

WHEREAS, Children and adolescents who are obese are more likely to be obese as adults and therefore more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer; and

WHEREAS, Children and adolescents who participate in physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits can lower their risk for cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer; and

WHEREAS, Schools play an important role in helping children and adolescents to develop and maintain healthy lifestyle habits through recess opportunities and physical education classes; and

WHEREAS, Research indicates that physical activity can improve concentration, classroom behavior, and memory; and

WHEREAS, First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama has committed to lowering childhood obesity and increasing physical activity for children and adolescents through her Healthier US Schools Challenge (HUSSC); and

WHEREAS, First Lady Michelle Obama's HUSSC program recommends a Gold standard of at least 90 minutes of physical activity per week for middle school age children; and

WHEREAS, Chicago School District 299 educates more than 400,000 students per year; and

WHEREAS, District 299 has indicated its mission to empower all students to engage in regular lifelong physical activity as a foundation for academic achievement, leading to a healthy and successful life; and

WHEREAS, District 299 has demonstrated its commitment to increasing physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits in children and adolescents by constructing a 3-year plan to increase the quality and quantity of physical education, with input from teachers, principals, students, parents, higher education, and external partners; and

WHEREAS, District 299 plans to increase the quality of physical education by implementing health-optimizing physical education; and

WHEREAS, District 299 has further committed to increase the quantity of physical education by doubling the amount of physical education elementary students receive, from an average of 50 minutes per week to 90 minutes per week, and requiring daily physical education for all 4 years of high school, starting in the 2014-2015 school year; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the staff, faculty, and administration of Chicago School District 299 on its efforts and support its mission to increase the quantity and quality of physical education for the students of Chicago Public Schools; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Chicago School District 299 as a symbol of our esteem and respect.