Young, Ossoff Introduce Bill to Boost Youth Sports Opportunities Across America
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) introduced the Youth Sports Facilities Act to help build and upgrade youth sports facilities across the country, giving kids and families recreational spaces to play while also supporting overall mental health and boosting local economic growth.
“Youth sports play a vital role in promoting healthy lifestyles from an early age while teaching essential life skills like teamwork and discipline. This bill would empower communities to use existing grant funds to improve youth sports facilities for children living in areas of need, encouraging greater youth sports participation in Indiana and across the nation,” said Senator Young.
“Georgia families deserve modern and safe sports facilities where their kids can play, grow, and thrive,” said Senator Ossoff. “This bipartisan bill will help Georgia communities expand youth sports facilities, strengthen local economies, and foster mental and physical health for the next generation.”
More specifically, the Youth Sports Facilities Act would expand the eligibility of existing grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to youth sports facilities, with a specific focus on rural and urban communities. Increasing the number of recreational facilities in communities will encourage more active lifestyles and spur local economic development.
The bill is supported by the National Recreation and Park Association, YMCA of the USA, the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, and Pop Warner Little Scholars.
“Youth sports are a vital part of America’s fabric and a significant part of the work done by local parks and recreation departments. On behalf of our 60,000 members, the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) is proud to endorse the Youth Sports Facilities Act. This critical legislation will expand access to high-quality youth sports programs nationwide,” said Kyle Simpson, Director of Government Affairs National Recreation and Park Association.
“As the leading nonprofit provider of youth sports programs, YMCA of the USA supports the Youth Sports Facilities Act. Youth sports facilities often lead to growth in local economies as families attend sporting events, support local business, hotels and restaurants. Youth sports programs create a space for families and the community to belong, improve health outcomes and strengthen the fabric of the economy and the community,” said Jeffrey Britt, Chief Government Affairs Officer YMCA of the USA.
“The access barrier to sports participation keeps America’s youth off the playing field and denies them the opportunity to realize the mental & physical health benefits and develop the social skills so important to a child’s development. SFIA fully endorses the Youth Sports Facilities Act to give communities the resources needed for investments in youth sports facilities to lower the access barrier to participation,” said Todd Smith, President & CEO Sports and Fitness Industry Association.
“A great many children are denied the benefits of sports and exercise due to the shortage of athletic facilities. In other cases, too many participants practice on limited areas which is unsafe as teams overlap. The Youth Sports Facilities Act will provide for more facilities being available for our children, our most precious commodity. As childhood obesity numbers rise, it’s our duty to get kids off of their sofas and enjoy getting healthy exercise,” said Jon Butler, Executive Director Pop Warner Little Scholars.
Full legislative text can be found here.