Healthy People 2030
On September 30, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a notice entitled, Announcement of Solicitation of Written Comments on Proposed Healthy People 2030 Objectives. HHS solicits written comments from the public on 12 new objectives proposed to be added to Healthy People 2030, and written comments from the public proposing additional new core, developmental, or research objectives or topics to be included in Healthy People 2030.
Public comment informed the development of Healthy People 2030. HHS will provide opportunities for public input periodically throughout the decade to ensure Healthy People 2030 reflects current public health priorities and public input. The updated set of Healthy People 2030 objectives and topics will reflect further review and deliberation by federal Healthy People topic area workgroups, the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Healthy People 2030, and other federal subject matter experts.
Congress Passes Continuing Resolution
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 9747, a continuing resolution (CR) to keep federal funding in place until December 20, 2024. The Senate quickly followed suit, passing the measure just hours later. None of the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2025 had been enacted at that point, making the CR essential to prevent a government shutdown that would have started on October 1, 2024.
The resolution includes extensions for key health provisions. These include a delay in the reporting requirements and payment reductions for Medicare clinical laboratory tests, additional funding for the continued implementation of the No Surprises Act, and an extension of the FDA’s pediatric priority review voucher (PRV) program. Moreover, it gives the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) access to its full FY 2025 funding—an urgent need with late-season storms affecting the U.S. mainland.
The House passed the CR with a vote of 341-82, while the Senate advanced it with a vote of 78-18. With both chambers of Congress now in recess until November 12, following the elections lawmakers are expected to reconvene for discussions on a significant omnibus spending package to finalize funding for the rest of FY 2025.The text of the CR is available here.
Congressional Hearing
The September 18, 2024 hearing of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, titled Investing in a Healthier America: Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, is highly relevant to members of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). As experts in exercise science, sports medicine, and health promotion, ACSM members are dedicated to advancing the role of physical activity in preventing and managing chronic diseases—a key focus of this hearing.
The hearing featured testimony from prominent healthcare and policy leaders, such as former Senator Bill Frist and Dr. Mark Hyman, who are influential in shaping national strategies for chronic disease prevention and treatment. ACSM members know that conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity can be significantly mitigated through regular physical activity, a cornerstone of ACSM’s advocacy efforts. This hearing aligns with ACSM’s mission to integrate exercise into healthcare as an essential tool for managing chronic diseases, making it an important opportunity to influence policy discussions.
Moreover, the presence of experts like Dr. Anne Peters and Dr. Ashley Gearhardt highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches—combining exercise science, clinical practice, and psychological research—to address the complexity of chronic diseases. For ACSM members, the outcomes of this hearing may shape future healthcare policies that prioritize prevention, including potential funding, programs, and research efforts that could directly impact their work in clinical and community settings.
New Obesity Maps! CDC Releases State-Specific 2023 Data on Adult Obesity
CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) recently released the 2023 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps that show 23 states have an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%, or more than 1 in 3 adults. Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%. The maps highlight the concerning rates of obesity. More
