RFK Jr. visits Texas, celebrates signing of MAHA legislation with Abbott

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in Austin on Wednesday to celebrate the passage of “Make America Healthy Again,” or MAHA, legislation.

“Doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican or whatever the case may be — every legislator in Texas wants to see Texas be put on a pathway to be healthier, and these laws that I’m signing today chart that pathway,” Abbott said.

He said making Texas healthy isn’t complicated — it’s the “usual stuff” like exercising, eating well and taking steps to prevent illness and chronic diseases.

Senate Bill 25 is the capstone of Texas’s MAHA legislation. The comprehensive legislation is designed to limit chronic physical and mental health conditions by primarily targeting school districts to spearhead educational efforts and food providers to label products that contain ingredients banned in other countries.

Abbott also celebrated the passing and signing earlier this year of two other bills. Senate Bill 314, which doesn’t allow schools that utilize the national school lunch program to serve food with certain additives, went into effect immediately when it was signed earlier this year. Senate Bill 379 goes into effect Sept. 1 and doesn’t allow people to buy sweetened drinks or candy with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.

“For years we’ve attempted to pass legislation like this,” SB 379 author State Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, said. “We’ve never had such a friend in the administration like President Trump and Secretary Kennedy before. Finally, this make America healthy again movement has caught fire in this whole country, and in Texas as well.”

Kennedy said these efforts have helped Texas lead the nation in the MAHA movement.

“There are no states—with the possible exception of Louisiana—that have done more far-reaching legislation,” Kennedy said. “40% of the food manufacturers in this country have now agreed to remove the nine synthetic petroleum-based dyes from their food. Why did they do that? They didn’t do that because they’re scared of me, they did it because they’re scared of what’s happening here in Texas today.”

The morning before Kennedy’s visit, the Texas House approved House Bill 25, which would legalize ivermectin use without a prescription. Ivermectin legalization has also become a target for the MAHA movement, which bills the ability to use it as “medical freedom.” HB 25 will now advance to the Texas Senate.

Kennedy and Abbott were joined by Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows and other members of the Texas legislature for the bill signing.

On Thursday, Abbott and Kennedy will hold a roundtable about rural healthcare in Texas.