CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Governor Patrick Morrisey joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy to announce a newly approved federal waiver that allows West Virginia to eliminate soda as an entitlement under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The decision enables the state to redirect taxpayer-funded food assistance toward what officials describe as more nutritious options, as part of a broader strategy to combat chronic health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
“Thanks to Secretary Rollins, Secretary Kennedy Jr., and the Trump administration, West Virginia is on the forefront when it comes to Making America Healthy Again,” said Governor Morrisey.
“We are cleaning up the food, getting active, and rewarding healthy choices. Today’s signing of our SNAP waiver to remove soda as a taxpayer-subsidized entitlement is another step toward reversing negative health trends and helping West Virginians live long, healthy, and purposeful lives.”
The waiver is part of the state’s health-focused agenda known as the “Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia,” which includes recent actions like becoming the first state to restrict the use of artificial dyes in school meals.
“In West Virginia, we’re cleaning up our food and getting people moving because in West Virginia, we don’t just follow, we lead. We will make West Virginia healthy again,” added Morrisey.
The waiver makes West Virginia one of the first states to receive federal approval to modify SNAP benefit guidelines in this way.
