Miller-Meeks Hosts HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Newton to Promote Youth Fitness and the Return of the Presidential Fitness Test

NEWTON, IOWA — Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) welcomed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the Newton YMCA for a roundtable and demonstration promoting youth fitness and the reinstatement of the Presidential Fitness Test.

Secretary Kennedy and Congresswoman Miller-Meeks discussed the urgent need to get children more active and improve youth health outcomes across the country. "We have the sickest population, obesity rates in children up to 20 percent today, and we have the highest chronic disease burden of any nation in the world," said Secretary Kennedy. "Seventy-seven percent of American youth cannot qualify for military service, and that should get everyone's attention."

Iowa recently passed a state law making the reinstated Presidential Fitness Test a required part of P.E. classes, and the HHS Department has partnered with YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of America nationwide to roll out the test through summer programming ahead of its introduction in schools this fall.

"I can remember doing these," said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. "I'm not the biggest kid, so I wasn't the fastest kid, but nonetheless, it's emphasizing the fun of what you're doing and getting kids moving, and how that translates to other activities they may want to do."

During the visit, Kennedy and Miller-Meeks met with children from the Newton YMCA's summer camp program who demonstrated several of the Presidential Fitness Test exercises. Congresswoman Miller-Meeks highlighted the Newton YMCA as a model for how public-private partnerships between community organizations, schools, and local leaders can drive real results for kids.

"Newton's YMCA provides a good example of how public-private partnerships between it, schools, and the broader community can bring success," said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks.

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