{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press/donnelly-helps-introduce-bill-with-bipartisan-group-of-senators-to-encourage-healthy-living", "Donnelly Helps Introduce Bill with Bipartisan Group of Senators to Encourage Healthy Living", "2015-10-29", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "IN", "Joe Donnelly", "D000607", "www.donnelly.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Donnelly Helps Introduce Bill with Bipartisan Group of Senators to Encourage Healthy Living\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPHIT Act would allow families and individuals to use money set aside in a pre-tax medical account for certain fitness expenses\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, October 29, 2015\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly helped introduce bipartisan legislation today with Senators John Thune (R-SD), Chris Murphy (D-CT) Johnny Isakson (R-GA)that would allow families and individuals to make certain fitness-related purchases from pre-tax health care accounts, such as for gym memberships, fitness equipment, and youth sports league fees.\r\nDonnelly said, Regular physical activity is a form of preventive health care and one of the most important things you can do for your health. That is why I am pleased to help introduce the PHIT Act, bipartisan legislation that would create incentives for families and individuals to become more physically active by allowing them to use money they have set aside in a pre-tax medical account for particular fitness expenses. Healthy lifestyles prevent and reduce disease and illness, and ultimately reduce health care costs. Thats good for our families and its good for our country.\r\nThune said, Americans are living healthier, more active lifestyles and prioritizing wellness and prevention for themselves and their families, said Thune. The PHIT Act encourages families to continue living a healthy lifestyle by making it easier for them to purchase certain fitness-related items using money theyve already saved in their flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts. My hope is that the PHIT Act incentives others to join this movement as well.\r\nMurphy said, Heres the reality: obesity and diabetes are costing taxpayers billions, and we should be using our tax code to incentivize people to stay in shape and out of the health care system. Gym memberships and sports fees often cost too much,and the PHIT Act is a great first step toward encouraging people to get active and stay healthy.\r\nIsakson said,This legislation empowers Americans to make healthy choices and advances health without creating a new government program.\r\nQualified expenses under the PHIT Act would not include expenses at private clubs or facilities that include golf, hunting, sailing, or riding. For sports equipment, reimbursement for a single item cannot exceed $250 and pre-tax dollars cannot be used for apparel or footwear.\r\nDuring the 113th Congress, the PHIT Act was introduced in the House of Representatives with more than 50 bipartisan cosponsors and was introduced as part of a larger legislative package in the Senate; neither bill cleared its respective chamber. \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press/donnelly-helps-introduce-bill-with-bipartisan-group-of-senators-to-encourage-healthy-living"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8706641383469105, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}