GREAT NEWS!!

Dear Theresa, As 2015 comes to a close, we wanted to share the great news about some of your biggest wins. In fact, it was such a banner year for heart health and public policy that we can’t fit them all in one e-mail (so stay tuned for part two next week).   First up: when lawmakers passed and the President signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act earlier this month, they delivered a huge win for physical education. Schools across the country can now include phys ed as part of a well-rounded curriculum, allowing them to get more money to fund their physical education programs, particularly low-income schools that need it most. Without question, none of this would’ve been possible without the more than 27,000 messages sent by You’re the Cure advocates, urging lawmakers to keep physical education strong and get our kids active. Second, walking and biking. Because of advocates like you who shared personal stories about the importance of sidewalks and bike paths in our communities as well as programs like Safe Routes to School, the transportation bill lawmakers passed earlier this month kept funding for these important policies – and even provided a slight boost. This means hundreds of millions of dollars over the next five years will go toward bicycling and walking infrastructure, including Safe Routes. At the start of the year, both these programs were in grave danger, with opponents arguing they should be cut entirely. Instead, you showed the power of strength in numbers and what can happen when we speak up for the well-being of our families. Thank you for making it a year to remember, Clarissa Garcia Director, Grassroots Advocacy American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association Heart Disease and Stroke. You’re the Cure. P.S. Keep an eye out for next week’s update on how you helped boost medical research funding and kept school meals healthy.