The COLA helps Social Security benefits keep pace with increases in the price of food, clothing and necessities like medical care. The annual COLA is measured by inflation; if inflation decreases, then Social Security benefits stay the same. In October 2009, the Obama administration announced that there will not be an increase in 2010, which was the first year without an automatic COLA since they went into effect in 1975.

Without this adjustment, many seniors living on a fixed income have felt a significant impact to their quality of life as they struggle with financial obligations while the cost of their basic needs continues to grow. Health care costs continue to soar, and this is where many seniors spend a disproportionately high amount of their income. While the COLA increase most years is small, every extra dollar is needed to help seniors pay for ever higher health care and prescription drug costs.

Many disadvantaged seniors need a COLA to more comfortably meet their monthly needs, and Congress can provide one in a fiscally-responsible manner. The Save Our Seniors Social Security (SOS) Act, which I co-sponsored, would give a one-time $280 payment to offset the lack of a COLA increase. This is not new spending. It would redirect some of the outrageous overspending by the Obama Administration to our nationís neediest seniors.

In addition to not receiving an automatic COLA this year, millions of seniors saw an increase in their Medicare Part B premiums, which are tied to increases in health care costs and are paid for out of Social Security benefits. I supported legislation to exempt seniors from paying the Medicare Part B premium increase out of their Social Security (in 2010). It overwhelmingly passed the House in September 2009, but the Senate failed to pass the measure.

We need to help seniors with rising costs. I will continue to advocate for a fair COLA that accurately reflects the true price of goods and services seniors rely on, especially rising health care costs. We need to restore the trust of the American people, meet the obligations that weíve promised to our seniors, and decrease wasteful spending to move our nation in the right direction.

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Chattanooga). is serving his 8th Congressional term, and is currently running for governor of Tennessee. Mr. Wamp can be reached in his Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2371.

Children who are physically well do much better in schools and avoid the chronic health consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. We are often over-medicating many younger children for illnesses and depression when research and common sense both clearly demonstrate that sweat is the most effective anti-depressant ever invented.

Physical education has been squeezed out of our schools, and it needs to be welcomed back in with open arms. Comprehensive physical education can give every child — regardless of background — an opportunity to learn healthy habits and get moving. The human body was made to move. Research shows that children who get a good healthy dose of cardiovascular exercise have better brain functions, test scores and sleep patterns and a better quality of life.

By the fourth grade, every child should know there are adverse consequences to a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition. God determines only part of your size, and the rest comes from living a healthy lifestyle. Scientific evidence demonstrates that both lifestyle and genetics can cause obesity, but new data suggests that diet and exercise can counteract the inherited risk.

About eight years ago, I founded the Congressional Fitness Caucus, which is a bipartisan group of more than 80 Members of Congress dedicated to increasing awareness about the danger of obesity and promoting the benefits of physical activity to overall health and wellness.

To strengthen physical education in our nation’s schools, I worked with my Fitness Caucus co-chair, Congressman Ron Kind, (D-Wisc.), to author the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act. The bill, which was carefully crafted not to impose any additional financial constraints on schools, recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives and has the support of more than 40 health, education and physical activity organizations.

FIT Kids would help make sure that children are active during the school day and are taught to be personally responsible for their health. The legislation would help provide parents and the public with information about the physical education that students receive so that parents can compare it to recommended national standards. It would also examine the link between children’s health and their academic achievement, and recommend effective and innovative ways to get physical education back into schools to help our next generation lead an active lifestyle.

We have to start addressing this national crisis. There’s no way the federal government can get its arms around these future health care costs unless Americans start living healthier lifestyles today. While obesity leads to a life of chronic illness, we can change the course of our young people if they understand the importance of physical activity, diet, wellness and prevention. The more children we can encourage to have a regular regime of physical activity in their lives and take better care of themselves, the better off we will be as a society.

The obesity rates among children and young adults additionally threaten our future military strength. Just last month the “Too Fat to Fight” report was released by an organization of retired military leaders. Amazingly, it warns that more than nine million young adults, or 27 percent of all Americans ages 17 to 24, are too overweight to join the military. The study notes that up to 40 percent of a child’s daily calorie intake occurs at school.

The importance of getting children active recently has gained a lot of attention, including the launch of the First Lady’s program to end childhood obesity in a single generation. In whatever way we approach this problem, physical activity in children must be a priority. This will be difficult to achieve without integrating it into our schools where children spend a large part of their daily life.

If we are going to get serious about combating childhood obesity, we must involve everyone in this effort — especially our schools. We cannot afford the economic and societal costs of childhood obesity, and strengthening physical education in schools could be a big step in reversing the trend lines and saving lives.

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Chattanooga), is serving his 8th Congressional term, and is currently running for governor of Tennessee.  Mr. Wamp can be reached in his Washington, D.C. office at (202)225-2371.