FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 25

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1936L.01I

         Whereas, obesity among the children of Missouri is at epidemic stages and can lead to poor health conditions and chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer; and

            Whereas, Medicaid and other health care costs are escalating in Missouri and are significantly impacted by obesity; and

            Whereas, adequate physical activity help children grow, develop, and do well in school; and

            Whereas, school-based health education and physical education programs teach young people to acquire an active lifestyle; and

            Whereas, healthy bodies and minds are major contributors to readiness to learn, to improved school attendance, and to improved performance in sports and other extracurricular activities; and

            Whereas, the General Assembly needs to identify long-term strategies to reduce the need for public assistance programs and to lower health care costs related to chronic diseases and poor health:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-third General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby supports implementation of school policies that ensure a healthy environment in our schools by increasing the physical education requirements for kindergarten through twelfth grade. This requirement would ensure daily physical education for kindergarten through eighth grade and increase the high school requirement to a minimum of two credits; and

            Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Director of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and that the Director of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education distribute a copy to every school district in Missouri.