Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in Austin Wednesday to promote new “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) state laws.
The new MAHA laws prohibit the use of federal food assistance to purchase sodas and candy; ban certain additives in free and reduced-priced school meals; and create stricter labeling requirements for food manufacturers.
“This puts Texas ahead of the nation in leadership,” Kennedy said at an event alongside Abbott at the Texas Capitol. “Texas has chosen a bold new course for public health — one I urge other states to follow.”
The new laws were inspired by Kennedy’s MAHA movement and given the unofficial moniker “Make Texas Healthy Again” when presented to the Legislature earlier this year. Abbott officially signed the bills last week, and they go into effect Monday.
“Every legislator in Texas wants to see Texas on a pathway to be healthier,” Abbott said at the event with Kennedy. “These laws chart that pathway.”
“Taxpayer dollars will no longer be used to fund chronic health problems in our state,” he added.
The new laws received bipartisan support in the bitterly divided Texas Legislature during its regular session, before a redistricting battle further intensified partisan fighting in the state.
Kennedy’s MAHA movement, which was a centerpiece of his run for president last year, helped him secure the role leading the Department of Health and Human Services in President Trump’s administration.
A much-touted MAHA Commission report on children’s health released in May focused heavily on the dangers of ultraprocessed foods, environmental chemicals, digital behavior and “overmedicalization.” Kennedy has frequently blasted those issues as being among the major contributors to chronic illnesses in the country.
“I told President Trump we are going to end the chronic disease problem, but we can’t do it from Washington,” Kennedy said Wednesday. “It’s initiatives like this — vision and courage of people in this room to stand up to these industries and all the lobbyists who are flooding in and actually do something great for Texas.”
“Not only making Texas healthy again, making America healthy again,” he added.
