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PEP Survives Massive Federal Budget Cuts But Future Tenuous

Date: 4/12/11

SILVER SPRING, MD -- April 12, 2011 – On Friday, April 8, an agreement was reached on Capitol Hill to fund the U.S. government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011.  Late in the day on Monday, April 11, the U.S. Congress released the details of that agreement.
 
The Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) program was not eliminated in the new agreement as it was in the original budget proposal that was passed in January by the U.S. House of Representatives, but was not considered in the Senate.  But the fight to save PEP is not finished. 
 
 The U.S. Department of Education will receive funding for programs that were not on the cut list in the new agreement.   The good news is that PEP is not on the cut list.  Over the next 30 days, the Department of Education will be working with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to decide which of the remaining programs will receive funding.  The SGMA will continue its work with our champions in Congress to ensure that PEP is funded.
 
The SGMA encourages the physical education community, especially past PEP grant winners and new applicants, to contact members of Congress and the Department of Education to let them know the importance of the program and express strong support for continued PEP funding. This is a very important time for PEP and your voice needs to be heard.    

“In order to save PE in our schools, we simply need to save PEP,” said Bill Sells, SGMA’s vice president of government relations.  “Contacting your local member of Congress, now, with that message is something that everybody in the sporting goods and fitness business should do.”

Click here to send letters to your members of Congress.

The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products industry.  SGMA helps lead the sports and fitness industries by fostering participation through research, thought leadership, product promotion, and public policy.  More information about SGMA membership and SGMA's National Health Through Fitness Day can be found at www.SGMA.com .