MARTINSBURG, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Governor Patrick Morrisey, alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announced a series of statewide health initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of West Virginians.
These efforts align with 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,” Morrisey said. “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.”
Kennedy emphasized the importance of these initiatives for the state’s future.
“Today marks a powerful step toward a healthier future for our children,” 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.”
Morrisey outlined his “Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia,” which serve as the foundation for the new initiatives:
- Clean Up The Food – Removing harmful additives and improving school nutrition.
- Find Purpose, Find Health – Encouraging meaningful engagement through work, training, or education.
- Move Your Body, Change Your Life – Promoting physical activity.
- Reward Healthy Food Choices – Encouraging better nutrition through policy changes.
As part of these efforts, Morrisey announced:
- The signing of House Bill 2354, which bans certain harmful food dyes in school lunches and restricts unhealthy food sales in West Virginia schools.
- New work, training, and education requirements for SNAP recipients.
- The launch of the “Mountaineer Mile,” a statewide initiative encouraging residents to walk a mile each day.
- A request for a federal waiver to prevent taxpayer money from covering soda purchases under SNAP.
