Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

Ben Lee

2021 Sugar Cone Dr.

Cookies&Cream, MN 55801

April 28, 2009

Senator Amy Klobuchar

302 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Klobuchar,

I respectfully ask that you vote to pass the SF 2028 bill, which focuses on increasing public access to outdoor recreation and parks for communities.

As you may know, obesity has been a huge issue and major concern in America for the past few years. One of the main reasons obesity is becoming an epidemic in America is because people are not getting enough daily exercise and/or physical activity. By passing this bill, you will provide the lower class and more importantly, children, an ideal environment to be physically active. It is crucial that children grow up with an active lifestyle so that they will continue on this healthy lifestyle in their future. Teaching children to be active may be the single most affective, easiest, and cheapest way to prevent obesity in America. I am aware that health facilities are already available and people can also exercise right in their homes, however, health facilities are oftentimes costly and exercising outdoors is a very different positive experience than exercising indoors. With that being said, I believe by passing this bill and providing more outdoor parks for communities, we will be taking a crucial step towards decreasing obesity in America.

I am aware that you may not know exactly how problematic obesity in America really is. There are a few facts you may want to know about this issue. As of now 63% of American are overweight. Even worse, the child obesity rate has tripled within the past two decades. This is a major concern because obesity leads to many serious chronic diseases later on in life such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. And according to the U.S. General Surgeon report, obesity is responsible for over 300,000 deaths per year.

Since obesity is highly modifiable, if not genetic, we should work to prevent this epidemic and save hundreds of thousands of American lives every year. As a health educator and a physically active citizen, I know that exercise is vital for good health. I understand that with more money comes better health. Because of this, passing the SF 2028 bill will help eliminate such economic barriers. I have had the privilege to go to a fairly nice high school and college which both had nice exercise facilities. I believe people who don't have these privileges still deserve a place to be physically active. Passing this bill will affect me very positively because I believe reducing obesity is a moral issue that everyone should be concerned about. Also by passing this bill, it will create justice for the whole public regardless of one's socioeconomic status.

Hopefully by now you are more aware of this issue. As a mother, I know you support child safety and promote child growth in all aspects. I am also aware that you have voted to pass bills to protect children from harmful products, environments, and people. By passing the SF 2028 bill you will be protecting children from the most dangerous aspect of their lives, chronic-disease. I hope you will vote "yes" to this bill to help keep America's children, lower class, and communities in general, healthy by being physically active every day.

If you have any questions, or would like more information about anything else regarding this issue, please feel free to contact me at (952) 925-2592. Thank you for reading this letter. Your time is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Ben Lee