Current Threats to PEP Bill — Emergency Action Needed Now!!!

(By Judy Young, NASPE/AAHPERD)

As we go into Congress’ "markup" of the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary School Act, I want to be sure that everyone is knowledgeable about the present status of the Physical Education for Progress (PEP Act). The good news first!

In addition to Senator Stevens, PEP now has 19 co-sponsors in the Senate. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), John Kerry (D-MA) and Frank Murkowski (R-AK) are the newest co-sponsors. Other co-sponsors include:

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico)

Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi)

Sen. Thomas Daschle (D-South Dakota)

Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio)

Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Connecticut)

Sen. Rod Grams (R-Minnesota)

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska)

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii)

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Michigan)

Sen. Blanche L. Lincoln (D-AR)

Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Indiana)

Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Alabama)

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania)

Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC)

Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minnesota)

The bad news is that we still need support from 80 Senators! To add to that, the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is chaired by Senator Jim Jeffords (R-VT), has voted not to include the PEP legislation in its "markup" of the Elementary and Secondary School Act (ESEA). This means the ESEA will go to the Senate floor with no mention of physical education. This was done despite the fact that Senator Stevens revised the language of the bill at the committee’s request to eliminate the specific requirements (qualified teacher, minutes of physical education, etc). Senators Collins (R-ME), Enzi (R-WY), Gregg (R-NH), Sessions (R-AL) expressed strong disapproval of including any new programs, including PEP, in ESEA. Therefore, for this bill to go forward, Senator Stevens will present "PEP" as a floor amendment during the debate of the ESEA which is tentatively scheduled for the last week of April after the Easter/Passover recess. To save our legislation from extinction, we desperately need more co-sponsors and supporters from both the Senate and the House of Representatives! We MUST step up our advocacy efforts now!

The Senators and/or their key education staff persons must be contacted and asked to support the PEP bill. Each is to be told that Senator Stevens will introduce a floor amendment during the ESEA debate and voting. "Can we count on you to support the PEP amendment?" is the question to ask.

Now more than ever YOU MUST STEP FORWARD to participate in organizing large scale lobbying efforts to these Senators and Representatives. We need support of your community beyond our professionals, such as parents, doctors, community leaders, etc. Please email Paula Kun (pkun@aahperd.org) about the results of your efforts. Thank you for your continued support! Don’t let PEP pass us by!

Learn more about the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) at www.aahperd.org, the web site of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). NASPE is the largest of AAHPERDís six national associations. A nonprofit membership organization of over 25,000 professionals in the fitness and physical activity fields, NASPE is the only national association dedicated to strengthening basic knowledge about sport and physical education among professionals and the general public. Putting that knowledge into action in schools and communities across the nation is critical to improved academic performance, social reform and the health of individuals.

(Information provided courtesy of www.pelinks4u.org)

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