The Coalition for the Registration of Exercise Professionals CREP® advocates for the registered exercise professional on issues that pertain to regulation, access to practice, and scope of work. As part of that effort, CREP® actively monitors state and federal regulatory bills and legislation which may impact the registered exercise professional and their scope of work.
CREP® continuously seeks opportunities to partner with policymakers, educators, health advocacy organizations, and other health and medical professions on policy that enhances the level of professionalism and opportunities for professionals who provide the leadership and expertise for communities looking to enhance their health, fitness or performance through movement, physical activity or exercise.
Helpful list of Acronyms and Key Definitions
Recent CREP Advocacy Initiatives/Calls to Action
Legislation We Are Currently Monitoring
View a recording of the Advocacy, Outreach & Engagement report presented at the CREP Membership Meeting on June 15, 2021 by CREP Director of Government Affairs Wade Delk.
Recent CREP Advocacy Initiatives/Calls to Action
Gym Mitigation and Survival Act of 2021 (GYMS Act - S.1613; H.R. 890)
Federal Legislation Providing Relief for the Fitness Industry
The GYMS Act is a bill aimed to establish a recovery fund to provide structured relief to health and fitness service establishments that have been uniquely hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Legislation We Are Currently Monitoring
Federal Legislation
Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2021 (PHIT Act - S.844; H.R.3109)
The Personal Health Investment Today Act (PHIT) would change the types of expenditures that could be payable out of tax-favored health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), medical savings accounts (MSAs) and/or medical reimbursement arrangements. The PHIT Act would allow consumers to include prevention in the form of increased physical activity, allowing fitness center dues, payments for some exercise equipment, youth sports/physical activity fees and other costs associated with active lifestyles to be paid with pre-tax dollars up to $1,000 cap for individuals and $2,000 for families. The PHIT Act gives consumers the option of using their pre-tax medical funds for physical activity to prevent illness and to live a healthy lifestyle.
Fixing American's Surface Transportation (FAST)
Act Walking and biking for transportation, known as active transportation has significant benefits. Regular active travel is associated with a decrease in chronic disease and improved physical and mental health outcomes. Active travel to work is associated with improved employee health and greater productivity while walking and biking to school is associated with improved health outcomes for students and better focus. More active transportation also has benefits for communities, with decreased pollution and congestion from traffic as well as positive economic outcomes. Despite these known benefits, rates of participation in active travel remain quite low in the United States, especially in comparison with other countries. Less than 20% of all trips in the US are made via walking or bicycling, despite the fact that nearly 60% of all trips made are less than 3 miles one way.
There are many things that can influence active travel, though two of the most influential factors include the environment to support walking and bicycling and policies that address safety and access to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. A supportive environment for walking and biking can include adequate sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, off-street trails/paths, on-street bike lanes, bicycle parking, or traffic calming strategies. Policies that support active travel may include laws addressing safety (e.g. safe passing, distracted drivers, sharing the road) or infrastructure policy to ensure that provisions are made for all modes of travel (e.g. Complete Streets, Safe Routes to School). Rates of fatalities for bicyclists and pedestrians are much higher in the United States compared with other countries that have greater rates of active travel. These deaths are not evenly distributed as well – pedestrians and cyclists living in low-income or ethnically diverse neighborhoods are more likely to be killed compared with those living in predominately White and middle- or high-income neighborhoods. Safety of pedestrians and cyclists is very closely tied to the physical environment where individuals are engaging in these behaviors. Concerns about safety from traffic is one of the leading barriers to engaging in active transportation for all groups of the population, though is of special concern for women and people in middle or older age groups. These concerns lead to lower participation rates in active travel for these populations.
The Fixing American's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Pub.114-94) has provided long-term funding for surface transportation infrastructure planning and investment. This Act is supportive of active transportation with an increase in funding for walking and bicycling, an expanded education program and an emphasis on addressing the needs of all modes of transportation beyond automobiles. The expanded focus on safety includes education and enforcement strategies on laws that impact pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The provisions afforded in this Act are encouraging for active travel and will enhance access and opportunity for all groups of the population to benefit from active travel and the potential for all communities to experience improvements in the environment and reap economic benefits. CREP supports the FAST Act and its mission to support walking and bicycling for transportation. Efforts to encourage physical activity via active travel should include support of this Act which has the potential for long term and widespread health, environmental and economic benefits.
Exercise and Fitness for All Act of 2021 – (S.2504)
A bill to promote the provision of exercise or fitness equipment, and exercise or fitness classes and instruction, that are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act – (S.905; H.R. 2171)
The bill would permit certain expenses including tuition, fees, books, equipment associated with obtaining or maintaining recognized postsecondary credentials to be treated as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of 529 accounts.
Health Savings Act of 2021 – (S.380)
The bill seeks to improve access to health care through expanded health savings accounts, including allowing for tax deductions for exercise equipment and physical fitness programs.
Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act – (S.1301; H.R.2094)
This bill would require HHS to publish a report every 10 years and a 5 year midway report that provides physical activity recommendations for the people of the United States. Each report would contain physical activity information and recommendations for consideration and use by the general public.
CREP Partnerships and Coalitions
CREP actively participates in the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA). The mission of the Physical Activity Alliance is to lead efforts to create, support, and advocate policy and system changes that enable all Americans to enjoy physically active lives.
The Moving Together Outside webpage has officially launched. Please visit the home page to get involved!
Last updated: August 2021.
