Legeslative Action Center
Lobby for a More Fit America
Want to Help Pass Legislation on Federal and Local Levels?
In a position to affect national and state initiatives that promote more active lifestyles for all Americans, we encourage you to join with our efforts to work to pass laws that will help affect societal changes toward a more fit America.
We have now instituted powerful tools that allow you to take action, monitor legislative issues, easily voice your opinions and speak to your elected officials on issues that are important to you via our website.
The initiative is focused on establishing and enhancing an influential, powerful and unified political voice for the fitness industry while strengthening our commitment to public outreach and increasing the number of ACE-certified fitness professionals who actively participate in grassroots advocacy.
Help us fight obesity and work towards a more fit America, take action now! You'll find current issues that we are working on below.
Federal Action Alerts
Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act
Under current law, employers and employees may be discouraged from offering or using a health benefit of membership to a health club. That's because while employees are not taxed for the benefit of using an in-house workout facility, they are forced to report the benefit of a membership to an off-site fitness facility as additional income. This forces employers to deal with more IRS paperwork and increases employees' taxes for using their benefits.
The goal of WHIP (H.R. 1748/S.1038) is to create a benefits system that offers the same benefit to employees who go to a fitness club as to those that work out at their office gym. WHIP recognizes the important role fitness facilities play and will help increase memberships and members by eliminating tax and paperwork burdens.
The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Bill
The PHIT Bill (H.R. 245) will make health club memberships and other fitness expenses even more affordable. Club members will be able to use flexible spending or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to pay for their memberships and portions of the costs of fitness equipment the same way they currently use the accounts to pay for prescription medications and doctor visits.
The PHIT Bill will significantly reduce physical fitness costs for the American public, giving them a greater incentive to join a fitness facility or purchase exercise equipment. This will help individual fitness facilities by making fitness facility memberships even more affordable.
State Action Alerts
Senate Bill 2164, the “Fitness Professionals Licensing Act”
Legislation was recently introduced in the State Senate that would place unnecessary and burdensome licensing requirements on New Jersey personal trainers and group exercise instructors. As written, the bill will inhibit efforts to provide both protections for the consumer and facilitate growth of the fitness industry in New Jersey.