They said the caucus was formed to cultivate partnerships with officials at the local, state, and federal levels who are interested in MAHA initiatives.
While Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continued his tour of Capitol Hill in a quest to gain backing from lawmakers, a group of Republican senators launched a new caucus to support the objectives of President-elect Donald Trump and his pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Congressional Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) caucus was formed to cultivate partnerships with officials at the local, state, and federal levels who are interested in MAHA initiatives.
Other objectives include establishing educational campaigns to promote nutritional awareness and healthier lifestyles, addressing chronic diseases, and increasing access to affordable, nutrition-rich foods.
Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) are the founding members.
“The MAHA caucus is committed to improving health outcomes by prioritizing nutrition, providing access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods, and focusing on primary care availability to tackle the root causes of chronic diseases,” Marshall said in a Dec. 19 statement.
Marshall is a former physician who practiced medicine for 25 years, according to the press release.
He said the caucus will promote a “Food is Medicine” approach and “foster transparency, innovation, and a transformative agenda that builds a healthier, stronger nation.”
After running for president as a Democrat and then an independent, Kennedy suspended his campaign in August, endorsed Trump, and formed the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.
The environmental lawyer and Children’s Health Defense founder was nominated by Trump to serve as HHS secretary last month and immediately promised significant changes throughout the department.
Multiple Republican senators have expressed agreement with Kennedy on issues such as ending what the latter described as corporate capture of health agencies and removing chemicals from the U.S. food supply.
The HHS manages 13 agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Fighting chronic disease, improving children’s health, and addressing corporate influence on government agencies were vital parts of Kennedy’s campaign platform when he ran for president as a Democrat and then an independent.
