Throughout the year, our blog will feature AHA volunteer stories of survival and hope. We know there are thousands of stories like these - thats why we want to say “Thanks” to all of you for giving your time and sharing your lives with us. You can’t spell CURE without U! Thank you for all you do to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. YOU’RE THE CURE!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Hearings on PE Bill Last Week a Success!

Important Legislative Update from Minnesota Advocacy Director, Rachel Callanan:
Great news! The Healthy Kids bill (PE bill) passed the House Education policy committee on Tuesday and the Senate Education Policy Committee on Wednesday last week! Thanks to each of you who contacted your legislators and came to the hearings. Your efforts made a difference!
Follow the link below to send a thank you message to your legislator(s):

On Tuesday in the House, our chief author Rep. Kim Norton and co-author, Rep. Bob Dettmer, did a great job presenting the need for the bill (HF 3115). Liz Parr-Smestad, a St. Paul PE teacher, provided excellent testimony on the bill and brought the discussion back to the kids. She did a great job reminding the committee that this legislation is about empowering our kids to lead healthier lives and she used specific examples of how she has seen kids blossom when given the chance to master new physical fitness challenges. The bill passed on a unanimous voice vote!
On Wednesday in the Senate, our chief author Sen. Terri Bonoff, again did a great job explaining the need for the bill (SF2753). Dr. Anne Edwards, pediatrician and current president of the Minnesota Academy of Pediatrics, provided important testimony about the importance of tackling this problem as a community; stressing the importance of partnership and collaboration. Then Jack Olwell, PE teacher at North Trail Elementary in Farmington, and Dr. Steven Geis, principal of North Trail, discussed the amazing results they have seen firsthand when a quality PE program is implemented in a school. They explained the positive impact that daily, quality PE has had on their school--they are #1 on test scores in the district despite having greater proportions of lower-income students, and students facing other challenges.
Please take a moment to email your legislator(s) to thank them for their leadership on these issues.
Thank you again for your hard work to get the legislation to this point. We still have a long way to go this session, but we have really hit the ground running!

Rachel Callanan, JD Senior Advocacy Director
American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate

*Don't Forget to Register for our Minnesota Heart on the Hill Event at the Capitol at www.heart.org/mnheartonthehill2010
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Posted by Heart of the Midwest at 4:04 PM

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