S. 1805Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Better Tools for Healthy Living Act

Sponsored by Tim ScottSen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Introduced June 12, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 6:06 AM UTC

The Better Tools for Healthy Living Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the CDC, to create a guide that outlines evidence‑based methods for building and running obesity‑prevention and control programs. The guide is meant for state and local health departments, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, and must be ready within two years of the law’s passage. It also requires the HHS to help these agencies put the guide into practice.

Key Provisions

  • Within two years, the CDC must develop a guide for state/local health departments, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations on effective, evidence‑based obesity‑prevention programs.
  • The guide must describe an integrated program structure and recommend optimal resources such as staffing and infrastructure.
  • It must outline strategies that include applying evidence‑based practices, reducing obesity‑related diseases and costs, and coordinating across nutrition, physical activity, epidemiology, communications, and policy experts.
  • The CDC must distribute the guide and related research, tools, and educational materials to the targeted agencies.
  • The HHS must provide technical assistance to help those agencies implement the guide’s recommendations.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

June 12, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 12, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

June 12, 2019

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 12, 2019

II

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1805

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 12, 2019

Mr. Scott of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. Jones) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a guide on evidence-based strategies for building and maintaining effective obesity prevention and control programs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Better Tools for Healthy Living Act.

2.

Guide on evidence-based strategies for State health department obesity prevention programs

(a)

Development and dissemination of an evidence-based strategies guide

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, shall—

(1)

develop a guide on evidence-based strategies for State and local health departments, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations to use to build and maintain effective obesity prevention and control programs, which shall—

(A)

describe an integrated program structure for implementing interventions proven to be effective in preventing, controlling, and reducing obesity; and

(B)

recommend—

(i)

optimal resources, including staffing and infrastructure, for promoting nutrition and obesity prevention, control and reduction; and

(ii)

strategies for effective obesity prevention programs for State and local health departments, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations, including strategies related to—

(I)

the application of evidence-based practices to prevent, control, and reduce obesity rates;

(II)

demonstrated knowledge of obesity prevention practices that reduce associated preventable diseases, health conditions, death, and health care costs; and

(III)

interdisciplinary coordination between relevant public health officials specializing in fields such as nutrition, physical activity, epidemiology, communications, and policy implementation; and

(2)

disseminate the guide and current research, evidence-based practices, tools, and educational materials related to obesity prevention, consistent with the guide, to State and local health departments, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations.

(b)

Technical assistance

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall provide technical assistance to State and local health departments, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations to support such health departments in implementing the guide developed under subsection (a)(1).

(c)

Indian Tribes; Tribal organizations

The terms Indian Tribe and Tribal organization have the meanings given the terms Indian tribe and tribal organization, respectively, in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).