James Oberstar: “The inspiration for this initiative in this legislation was a report by the Centers For Disease Control of the U.S.…”

“The inspiration for this initiative in this legislation was a report by the Centers For Disease Control of the U.S. Public Health Service, the Department of Health and Human Services some 4 years ago. I participated in this conference and listened to the presentation that over 300,000 Americans a year die of obesity and its complications, the second-leading cause of death in America. Yet 25 percent of America's 15-and-under school children are clinically obese; 36 percent of all Americans are obese or are seriously clinically overweight. We are facing a health epidemic that 75 percent of children 15 and under do not walk, do not bicycle to school or associated activities; they are driven. That is a class in our society that is mobility challenged. I heard these numbers and others that I will not repeat here that just show an emerging health crisis with huge implications for obesity, for cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and other related illnesses. The Centers For Disease Control raised the flag. I thought we ought to have a response. I gathered together a group of active-living organizations, those bicycling and pedestrian and other outdoor activities, cited those figures and said I have got an idea to deal with this: we will call it Safe Routes to School, to engage an entire generation of Americans in a healthier lifestyle that will follow them throughout their life.”