From CNS News, Obama Administration Using Stimulus Money to Encourage ‘Healthful Lifestyle Habits’
The Health and Human Services Department plans to spend $650 million tax dollars encouraging Americans to develop “healthful lifestyle habits.”
Healthy habits should be “the natural first choice for Americans,” HHS said as it announced that $373 million in stimulus funds are now available for communities and tribes to spend on projects that increase physical activity, improve nutrition, decrease obesity, and reduce smoking in U.S. communities.
The $373 million for the “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” will be awarded through a competitive selection process.
“This initiative will make disease prevention and health promotion top priorities in states and communities across the country,” Sebelius said. “Preventing disease is vital as a strategy to improve our nation’s health and reduce health care costs.”…
So what will money intended to stimulate the economy actually be spent on?
…According to HHS, they can improve access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity. Specifically, they can “work to make high-fat snack foods and sugar-sweetened beverages less available in schools and in other community sites.”
Communities can also pass “clean indoor-air laws” that bar smoking. And HHS said some of the money may be spent on ads promoting healthy choices.
Communities and tribes receiving the stimulus money will have two years to complete their work.
The rest of the $650 million ($277 million) will spent on supporting, extending and evaluating the impact of the community projects…
No mention in the article of how many jobs will be created or saved.
Where are you from? Is it a secret?
Comment by Tania — September 21, 2009 @ 6:33 am