The Health and Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA) is calling on US club operators and members to reach out to their elected officials in support of the PHIT Act (Personal Health Investment Today).

The Health and Fitness Association has long been campaigning to allow Americans to use pre-tax funds of up to US$500 per person or US$1,000 per household, to cover physical activity expenses, including gym memberships in what would be a huge boost to the health and fitness industry and US consumers.

After the huge win of the act being passed through the House of Representatives earlier this month, the US Senate has now removed the PHIT Act from the tax reconciliation package.

HFA president and CEO, Liz Clark says the association is not giving up and urged the industry to contact elected officials and mobilise their members to do the same: “Although we're disappointed the Senate has dropped the HSA fitness provision from the Tax Reconciliation Bill, we are not deterred," she said. "We’ve fought too hard, and the stakes are too high to walk away now.

“We're activating a nationwide grassroots initiative, empowering health club and studio operators to engage their communities and urge their elected officials to reconsider pulling this provision from the bill. Fitness is a vital part of preventive health and it deserves to be recognised and supported as such in federal policy. We will continue to advocate until that recognition is secured."

Liz Terry, editor of HCM, said: "We've been reporting on the progress of the PHIT act since it launched in 2006 in the days of John McCarthy and have seen the industry rise up and overcome setback after setback. This latest blocking of the act by the Senate must be one of the last, as it is surely time the US government recognised the huge cost-benefit of prevention and enabling greater access to physical activity when it comes to the cost of healthcare in the US, which is soaring out of control."

The PHIT Act has been introduced to the House of Representatives by 16 congress members since 2006.

If you're operating clubs in the US, here's the link to send to your members and here's one for club operators and staff.