Rising rates of obesity and Americas’ sedentary lifestyles are resulting in mounting healthcare costs that are increasing at double digit rates each year.  Public health experts agree that a more physically fit population would lower health care costs, reduce governmental spending, result in fewer illnesses and improve worker productivity.

As a founder and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Fitness Caucus, I believe we have a duty to create as many incentives as possible to get Americans off the couch and moving.  This is why I introduced H.R.1634, the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act.  The bill will exempt a company’s contributions to the costs of fitness center membership fees from an employee’s income tax.

Current tax law requires employees to pay income tax on any fitness center benefit an employer might provide unless the fitness center is located at their work site.  The employees of firms unable to provide a fitness center in-house face a discriminatory tax code that hinders their ability to benefit from fitness center subsidies.

The WHIP Act would correct this inequity in the current tax code, helping many smaller businesses and their employees.  It also would be an important step in reversing the health trend that our country is facing by promoting physical activity, combating obesity and preventing obesity-related diseases.