FundPlay Foundation Backs STRONG Kids Act to Expand Youth Sports Access

The FundPlay Foundation has rallied its coalition of nonprofit and industry partners behind the introduction of the bipartisan STRONG Kids Act, legislation intended to expand access to youth sports nationwide. The bill proposes to direct a portion of federal tax revenue generated from sports wagering to fund community-based sports programs.

The legislation, introduced by U.S. Representatives Mike Carey (R-Ohio) and Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-California), has garnered support from organizations such as YMCA of the USA, the National Recreation and Park Association, and the Afterschool Alliance, alongside industry partners like LeagueApps, TeamSnap, and UnderArmour.

Under the proposed act, funding equal to 50 percent of the federal excise tax revenue collected on sports wagering would be authorized annually for these programs. This initiative is structured to be funded entirely through existing tax revenue, with no new cost to taxpayers, and would mandate regular reporting to Congress on program outcomes.

The STRONG Kids Act aims to address the growing challenge of youth sports accessibility for many American families. Community organizations that have historically provided local sports programs often face funding shortages, limiting opportunities for children, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds.

FundPlay Foundation states that the bill represents years of advocacy, building on previous efforts to secure state-level funding and advance related federal legislation. The STRONG Kids Act marks the coalition's third major federal legislative push.