H.R. 4536

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4536 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4536

To recognize and reward exceptional physical fitness among members of 
the Armed Forces serving on active duty and to promote physical 
readiness and overall health in the Armed Forces.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 17, 2025

Mr. Timmons introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways 
and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To recognize and reward exceptional physical fitness among members of 
the Armed Forces serving on active duty and to promote physical 
readiness and overall health in the Armed Forces.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Fit for Duty Act''.

SEC. 2. MILITARY FITNESS BONUS PAY.

(a) Findings; Sense of Congress.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(A) Physical fitness is a critical component of 
military readiness, ensuring that members of the Armed 
Forces can meet the physical demands of their duties in 
both training and combat environments.
(B) According to the Department of Defense, 
musculoskeletal injuries related to poor physical 
fitness are among the leading causes of non-
deployability and medical discharge in the Armed 
Forces, costing the military billions in healthcare 
expenses annually.
(C) A 2022 Department of Defense report found that 
approximately 77 percent of young Americans are 
ineligible for military service, with obesity being one 
of the primary disqualifying factors.
(D) Data from the Army Public Health Center 
indicates that excess body fat and poor cardiovascular 
fitness are linked to lower performance in physically 
demanding tasks, increased risk of injury, and higher 
attrition rates in basic training and beyond.
(E) According to the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity among active-
duty members of the Armed Forces increased from 10.4 
percent in 2012 to 17.4 percent in 2022, negatively 
affecting overall force readiness and deployability.
(F) The United States Armed Forces lose an 
estimated $1,500,000,000 annually due to obesity-
related health issues, including lost workdays, medical 
costs, and early separations from service.
(G) The implementation of incentive-based fitness 
programs have been shown to enhance motivation and 
readiness and reduce long-term healthcare expenditures 
within military populations.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
fostering a culture of physical excellence among members of the 
Armed Forces strengthens individual and unit readiness and 
reinforces the ability of the United States to project power 
and defend freedom across the globe as the premier military 
force in the world.
(b) Establishment of Bonus.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 
37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section:
``Sec. 358. Military fitness bonus pay
``(a) Availability of Bonus.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary concerned shall pay a 
fitness bonus to each member of the Armed Forces who--
``(A) is entitled to basic pay under section 204 of 
this title; and
``(B) achieves a score of 90 percent or higher on a 
physical fitness test, as determined by the Secretary 
concerned.
``(2) Recurring availability.--A bonus under this section 
shall be available for each physical fitness test the Secretary 
concerned requires a member of the Armed Forces to complete.
``(b) Amount of Bonus.--The amount of a bonus paid under this 
section shall be--
``(1) $1,000 with respect to a member of the Armed Forces 
who achieves a perfect score on a physical fitness test; and
``(2) $500 with respect to a member of the Armed Forces 
who--
``(A) does not achieve a perfect score on a 
physical fitness test; and
``(B) achieves a score of 90 percent or higher on 
such physical fitness test.
``(c) Annual Report.--Not later than December 31 of each year, each 
Secretary concerned shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report that includes, with respect to the preceding fiscal 
year--
``(1) the total number of bonuses awarded under this 
section by the Secretary concerned;
``(2) the number of bonuses awarded under this section by 
the Secretary concerned for a perfect score on a physical 
fitness test;
``(3) the number of bonuses awarded under this section by 
the Secretary concerned for a non-perfect score of 90 percent 
or higher on a physical fitness test;
``(4) the number of members of the Armed Forces to whom the 
Secretary concerned awarded a bonus under this section;
``(5) the total cost of carrying out this section for 
members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary concerned; and
``(6) a description of the impact of this section, if any, 
on the military readiness of the members of the Armed Forces 
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned.''.
(c) Exclusion From Income Tax.--
(1) In general.--Section 134(b) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
``(7) Certain bonus payments for military fitness.--The 
term `qualified military benefit' includes any bonus awarded 
under section 358 of title 37, United States Code.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
shall apply to taxable years ending after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
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