Kennedy Heading West on ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Tour
WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is embarking on a brief, multi-state tour to tout the early initiatives he’s put in place as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
During his three-day tour of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, Kennedy will meet with elected officials, tribal leaders, nutrition experts and charter school operators.
According to a press release from the department “Secretary Kennedy will celebrate new state laws that ban ultra-processed foods and dyes in public schools, restrict SNAP purchases of candy and soda, and ban the addition of fluoride to public drinking water.”
Among his scheduled events are visits to two health centers, including a teaching kitchen to train medical students and a nutrition-based health clinic for chronic disease management.
Kennedy is also slated to participate in a fireside chat intended to highlight the role of tribal self-governance in advancing patient care, innovation and community wealth.
Afterwards, he will meet with leaders of the Navajo nation to discuss food sovereignty initiatives, wellness programs, and the first-ever junk food tax implemented by a tribe.
Passed in 2014 by the Navajo Nation Council, the Healthy Diné Nation Act imposed a 2% tax on foods and beverages with minimal-to-no nutritional value and balanced it with the removal of a 6% tax on water, fruits and vegetables.
The goal of the tax was to promote healthier diets and lifestyles in the Navajo Nation and provide new revenue for local community wellness projects.
Kennedy will round out his trip by visiting a Pre-K to 11th grade charter school that integrates healthy eating and physical fitness into its daily student life.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue
