Kennedy Celebrates Bold State and Tribal Leadership on MAHA Tour

WASHINGTON, D.C.--APRIL 10, 2025--HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. concluded a landmark three-state MAHA tour of the Southwest this week, celebrating bold state legislation and strengthening partnerships with tribal leaders, elected officials, and educators. The tour advanced President Trump’s commitment to end the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again.

From April 7-9, Secretary Kennedy visited Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico to see firsthand how community leaders are moving the needle on the MAHA agenda.

“At every stop on this tour, I witnessed the impact of bold leadership — from state lawmakers to Indigenous leaders standing up for the health of their communities and the future of their children,” said Secretary Kennedy. “At HHS, we’re committed to empowering these communities by supporting science-based policies, rebuilding trust in public health, and protecting future generations from harmful exposures. That is how we’ll Make America Healthy Again.”

UTAH:

On Monday, Secretary Kennedy held a press conference with elected officials before a packed crowd to celebrate Utah’s groundbreaking MAHA legislation:

• The nation’s first ban on adding fluoride to public drinking water.
• A ban on certain dyes and chemical additives in public school meals.
• A restriction on using SNAP benefits to purchase soda.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin joined Secretary Kennedy at the event. Later, the two cabinet members discussed these legislative milestones, and Administrator Zeldin announced that the EPA will conduct a review of the latest scientific research regarding the health risks associated with fluoridated water.

Secretary Kennedy also toured the University of Utah’s Osher Center for Integrative Health, which serves as national model for combatting chronic disease through nutrition.

ARIZONA:

On Tuesday, Secretary Kennedy met with tribal leaders at the Tribal Self-Governance Conference about the opportunities and challenges of self-governance in healthcare.

After the conference, the Secretary toured a Phoenix-area Native Health Federally Qualified Health Center, which provides health care and social services (medical, dental, behavioral health, WIC, and wellness programs) to urban-dwelling Native Americans in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

At the clinic, Secretary Kennedy met with Dr. Shad Marvasti, founder of The Culinary Medicine Program, which teaches medical students how to understand the impact of good nutrition on patients’ health.

Next stop was the Arizona State Capitol, where Secretary Kennedy joined Arizona lawmakers at a packed press conference to celebrate two new bills passed by the senate and house and now sitting on Governor Katie Hobb’s desk:

• The Arizona Healthy Schools Act bans public schools from serving ultra-processed foods with harmful additives such as artificial dyes.
• Ban on Soda Purchases with SNAP funds directs the state to seek a waiver from the USDA to prohibit this.

Window Rock, AZ / Gallup, NM:

On Wednesday, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren led Secretary Kennedy and leaders of the Navajo Nation on a hike in Window Rock followed by a traditional blessing and performance of the Diné Tah Dancers.

They discussed Navajo Nation’s efforts to promote health and wellness within their community and how HHS can support these goals.

The final stop of the tour was to the Hózhó Academy in Gallup, NM, a tuition-free charter school serving predominantly Native and Hispanic students. The school fuses classical education with a rigorous wellness curriculum — including the Arete Wellness Program, inspired by the original JFK Presidential Fitness Challenge, adapted for every K-12 grade.

“I urge every state to follow the example set by Utah and Arizona and pass MAHA legislation that supports the health and wellness of our children,” Kennedy said. “This fall, I look forward to welcoming every Governor who champions these bills to the White House for a celebration.”