Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head his administration’s Department of Health and Human Services, spent the past week in Washington, D.C., drumming up support for his confirmation and his Make America Healthy Again agenda.
So far he has focused primarily on meeting with Republican members of the Senate, but he has indicated that he could begin reaching out to Democratic members in January.
Sen. Roger ‘Doc’ Marshall (R-KS) announced on Thursday, following a meeting with Kennedy earlier in the week, that he is forming a new Congressional caucus named Make America Healthy Again (MAHA), which will support the Trump administration’s health initiatives. Kennedy has already endorsed the formation of the caucus, Marshall said in a news release. Marshall has likewise endorsed Kennedy’s bid for head of HHS.
“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,” said Marshall, who practiced medicine for more than 25 years before becoming a U.S. representative in 2017 and a senator in 2021. “With our ‘Food is Medicine’ approach, support from RFK Jr., and a shared goal to Make America Healthy Again, we aim to foster transparency, innovation, and a transformative agenda that builds a healthier, stronger nation.”
Other founding members of the MAHA caucus include Republican Sens. Tommy Tuberbville of Alabama, Rick Scott of Florida, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and Ron Johnson of Wyoming.
“During our meeting, Bobby [Kennedy] and I had a great discussion about ways to make our food and health care system better. As a founding member of the Senate Make America Healthy Again Caucus, I look forward to working with my friend Senator Roger Marshall and our colleagues to make sure our food is safe, bring transparency to vaccines and health care, and Make America Healthy Again,” Tuberville said in the press release.
Senator Scott, the incoming chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, noted, “From the day we are born, we start aging—and my goal is that every American has the resources and information to live long, happy lives. If you have your health, you have everything and I am looking forward to working with my fellow MAHA members and RFK Jr. to Make America Healthy Again.”
The stated visions and goals of the caucus include promoting access to nutritious affordable food and encouraging healthy eating habits; emphasizing preventative care and implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions to address chronic illness; promoting agricultural practices that boost the nutritional quality of food and soil health; and expanding primary care access while reducing costs.
The caucus will act as a legislative force to promote and mobilize support for these goals and to build partnerships with state and community leaders to implement these initiatives.