Feature Story

August 2020

ACE Urges Congress to Pass COVID-19 Youth Sports & Health Working Families Relief Act

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) urges Congress to pass the COVID-19 Youth Sports and Healthy Working Families Relief Act (H.R. 7562), which incorporates the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act. ACE has long advocated for the passage of the PHIT Act, which would provide a 10% to 37% discount on expenses directly related to active lifestyles, including youth sports, health club dues, at-home fitness and personal training services, through pre-tax medica accounts like HSA and FSA.

In a recent press release, ACE stated that including H.R. 7562 and the PHIT Act in the next economic stimulus package would have the triple effect of:

• Improving health in America.
• Reducing the strain on our overall healthcare system.
• Providing consumer-driven economic stimulus to help active lifestyle industries harmed by COVID.

Specifically, PHIT would incentivize health by providing a 10% to 37% discount on physical activity expenditures through the use of pre-tax medical accounts. Youth sports costs, health club dues, personal training services, at-home fitness programs, outdoor recreation fees, sports and fitness equipment, and other expenses related to active lifestyles would be eligible for payment using an HSA or FSA.

Currently, HSA/FSA account holders can pay for treatment of disease with their pre-tax money, but not for prevention via physical activity.

Learn more by visiting www.acefitness.org.