Baseball legend Steve Garvey is coming to the Capitol next week to lobby for a bill that would allow taxpayers to deduct expenses for everything from summer camps to health club memberships.  

Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., is sponsoring  the Personal Health Investment Today Act, which would allow a medical care tax deduction, $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for families annually, for qualified sports and fitness expenses.  

Garvey was a first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 10-time All-Star retired in the late 1980s after a 20-year career and is now a motivational speaker.  

On March 16, National Health Through Fitness Day, Garvey will personally meet with senators and members of Congress to ask them to pass the proposal. He is joined by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and PHIT America.  

This will be Garvey’s third time attending National Health Through Fitness Day and the Sports & Fitness Industry Association is giving him a lifetime achievement award for his commitment to promoting active, healthy lifestyles.  

In 2015, this award went to former Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John. Previous award winners include former NFL stars Ken Harvey, John Booty, Herschel Walker and Tim Brown, and runner Jenny Simpson and tennis great Stan Smith.  

Former representative Gerald C. Weller, an Illinois Republican, originally introduced the PHIT Act in 2006. Eligible expenses under the legislation include youth camps, health club memberships, exercise classes, sports league fees and marathon registrations.

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