Fitness industry leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. this May, bringing their collective expertise directly to policymakers. The Health and Fitness Association (HFA) Fly-In and Advocacy Summit united over 125 professionals who participated in 130 meetings across Capitol Hill, including a significant session with White House staff. This gathering represented a strategic push to position physical activity as an essential component of preventive healthcare rather than merely a recreational pursuit.

HFA, the only nonprofit organization representing the fitness industry before policymakers, orchestrated this event as part of its ongoing mission to advocate for policies recognizing fitness as crucial to public health. This year’s summit marked its fourth gathering, growing in scale and impact with each iteration.

Making Fitness Essential: The PHIT Act Push

The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act was at the forefront of the advocacy agenda. This legislation would change how physical activity expenses are classified for tax purposes, reclassifying them as preventive healthcare. This change would allow Americans with flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) to use up to $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for couples on fitness expenses, including gym memberships, personal training, and youth sports.

The timing of the Fly-In proved especially strategic. After years of groundwork by HFA, these advocacy efforts paid dividends when the House Ways & Means Committee included language from the PHIT Act in its reconciliation package, treating physical activity expenses as eligible medical expenses. This inclusion marks a pivotal milestone in reframing how fitness services are viewed within healthcare policy.

“The reconciliation package offers one of the strongest opportunities yet to achieve our goal of passing the PHIT Act,” noted Mike Goscinski, HFA Vice President of Government Affairs. The organization continues working behind the scenes as Congress navigates this package through committees and toward final passage. In the early morning of May 22nd, 2025, the House of Representatives passed the package, including the PHIT Act language, a major victory for those who flew in and an even greater victory for the health and wellness community at large. 

Building Influential Connections

The summit began with a reception at HFA’s Washington office, setting the stage for three days of strategic engagement. A highlight came on day two when Senator Markwayne Mullin led a workout at Gold’s Gym NoMa Center alongside five other members of Congress and Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes.

These relationship-building activities complemented formal advocacy sessions, including panel discussions on positioning physical activity as preventive medicine, examining trade and tariff impacts, and understanding tax reconciliation processes. Industry voices from diverse settings demonstrated the broad reach of fitness services across communities.

The diversity of participants helped counter outdated perceptions about the fitness industry. “There’s still a common misconception about fitness—that it’s all stringer tanks and nylon,” Goscinski explained. “What we show through our diverse representation is that this industry serves everyone, regardless of who they are or how they want to get physically active.”

Beyond the Summit: Continuing Advocacy

The achievements during the Fly-In extended beyond the PHIT Act progress. Participants successfully advocated for a 60-day implementation delay for the Federal Trade Commission’s “Click to Cancel” rule, giving fitness businesses additional time to comply with new regulations—a tangible victory announced just days after the summit concluded.

For HFA and industry leaders, this summit represents just one component of ongoing advocacy efforts. The organization emphasizes that meaningful policy change requires sustained engagement between fitness businesses and lawmakers, extending well beyond these three days in Washington.

“The work doesn’t end once the Fly-In is over,” Goscinski stressed. “We encourage our members to invite lawmakers to facility openings, arrange business tours when officials return to their districts, and maintain those connections.” This continuous relationship-building makes future advocacy more effective and helps cement the industry’s position as an essential component of public health infrastructure.

Final Thoughts

Advocacy work operates in a fiercely competitive environment where countless voices vie for limited policy attention. The fitness industry’s recent successes demonstrate how strategic, unified messaging can elevate physical activity within the preventive health conversation.

By bringing together diverse industry leaders—from boutique studio owners to executives of major gym chains—HFA created a comprehensive picture of fitness’s impact on communities nationwide across endless demographics. These collaborative efforts showcase how focused advocacy can shift longstanding perceptions and create pathways for policy advancement that recognizes physical activity as a critical component of healthcare rather than a luxury or hobby.

About Elisa Edelstein
Elisa is a curious and versatile writer, carving her niche in the health and wellness industry since 2015. Her lens is rooted in real world experience as a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder and extended out of the gym and on to the page as a writer where she is able to combine her passions for empowering others, promoting wellness, and the power of the written word.