Richard Simmons is coming to Washington tomorrow. And the media frenzy has already started. He appeared on local news this morning, joking around but sounding serious when he talked about his mission to save PE. USA Today reports that the “fitness fireball” promises to be a combination of “Norma Rae and Johnny Appleseed” when he touts the FIT Kids Act to the House Education and Labor Committee tomorrow.
On Monday’s edition of NPR’s “Tell Me More,” Simmons talks about fighting obesity as a child and describes how he’s always been “a clown and court jester.” He promises to be funny tomorrow.
Simmons is sure to draw the media spotlight in the hearing room. He’ll appear on a panel with Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., and Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., (the sponsors of FIT Kids), former NFL wide receiver Tim Brown, two physical fitness experts, and a student from the Florida Council on Physical Fitness.
After the hearing, Simmons will lead a rally at noon on the terrace of the Cannon Office Building. His Web site promises they’ll be sweatin’ to “Dancing in the Streets.” Good thing the heat wave has broken.
Remember when Alyson Klein wrote that the House committee’s action on the No Child Left Inside Act was a sign that NCLB wasn’t going anywhere this year? Same could be said about tomorrow’s hearing.
