Martinsburg, W.Va. – Today, Governor Patrick Morrisey was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to announce a series of statewide initiatives to make West Virginia healthy. These initiatives model the Trump administration and Secretary Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
“The Make America Healthy Again movement starts right here in West Virginia,” said Governor Patrick Morrisey. “We’re cleaning up our foods, promoting exercise, and putting nutrition back into SNAP. I’m committed to Secretary Kennedy’s vision for America and raising health standards here in the Mountain State.
“Today marks a powerful step toward a healthier future for our children,” Secretary Kennedy said.“We are restoring public trust in our health agencies and working to Make America Healthy Again by eliminating harmful food dyes from school lunches and ensuring taxpayer-funded nutrition programs promote wholesome, nourishing choices. By signing this law, Governor Morrisey has shown his commitment to giving our children the healthy food they deserve.”
Governor Morrisey introduced his “Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia” with complementary announcements meant to bolster each pillar.
Morrisey’s defined the four pillars as:
- Clean up the food
- Find Purpose, Find Health
- Move Your Body, Change Your Life
- Reward Healthy Choices
The announcements that followed each pillar are all about being healthier today than we were yesterday. They include:
- Formally announcing the signing of House Bill 2354 into law, which prohibits certain harmful food dyes in school lunches and unhealthy food items for sale in West Virginia.
- The implementation of work, training, and education requirements for SNAP recipients.
- The “Mountaineer Mile,” a statewide initiative for each West Virginian to get out and walk a mile each day.
- Requesting a waiver from the federal government for West Virginia to ensure taxpayers no longer pay for soda under SNAP.
Morrisey concluded the event by signing a letter of intent to request waivers for changes to the SNAP program in West Virginia.
