During a confirmation hearing on Wednesday to become head of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke about his ideas for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
His response stemmed from a Senate Finance Committee question on how he would incorporate nutrition-based interventions into healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
Why It Matters
Kennedy's proposed reforms focused on the high prevalence of diet-related diseases among low-income Americans who rely heavily on SNAP benefits.
By reorienting SNAP toward healthier options, he believes these adjustments could substantially alleviate the burden of chronic diseases across the country.
What To Know
In his testimony, Kennedy emphasized the critical role that government programs can play in enhancing the nation's health, starting with what people eat.
"The federal funding of the SNAP program, for example, and of school lunch programs could be a driver for helping kids," Kennedy explained. He criticized the current state of these programs, which often prioritize processed foods and sugary drinks, highlighting a misalignment with nutritional needs.
"We shouldn't be giving 60 percent of the kids in school processed food that is making them sick... We shouldn't be spending 10 percent of the SNAP program on sugar drinks. We have a direct ability to change things there," Kennedy argued.
Kennedy advocated for integrating outcome-based approaches into Medicaid and Medicare, linking good nutrition directly to healthcare outcomes.
"We also, you know, in Medicaid and Medicare, need to focus on outcome-based medicine, on putting people in charge of their own health care... making them accountable... so they understand the relationship between eating and getting sick," he said.
Kennedy also pushed for more research into the impacts of food additives on health, proposing more involvement from federal health agencies.
"Most importantly, we need to deploy NIH and NFDA to do the research to understand the relationship between these different food additives and chronic disease, so that Americans understand it and make sure that Americans are aware," he added.
Despite his ambitious plans for reform, Kennedy assured that his policies would not infringe on personal freedoms. He noted that his boss, President Donald Trump, loves Diet Coke and McDonald's and if people want to eat that, they should be able to get them.
"If you want to eat Hostess Twinkies, you should be able to do that, but you should know what the impacts are on your family and on your health," Kennedy said.
What People Are Saying
Representative Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Billions of taxpayer dollars in food stamps (SNAP benefits) are being spent on junk food and soda—products that are wildly unhealthy and causing obesity, diabetes, and other preventable diseases to skyrocket. It's a system that's broken, leaving American families with empty calories instead of real nutrition."
Senator Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican, wrote on X: "RFK Jr. has gone through the most thorough vetting process of any committee in Congress. He deserves to be confirmed as HHS Secretary."
Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democratic, said during Wednesday's hearing: "These hearings are a job interview... and after that interview, there's no way I'd hire Mr. Kennedy."
Allison Aubrey, food and health correspondent for NPR News, said on "All Things Considered" Tuesday: "RFK Jr. has called for an overhaul of the nation's largest antihunger program, known as SNAP. Every year, the federal government spends billions of dollars to provide direct food assistance to more than 40 million low-income Americans. Once known as food stamps, there's a lot of bipartisan support for SNAP, but there is also criticism that SNAP benefits can be used to buy things like sodas, candy and chips."
What Happens Next
As the confirmation process progresses, the discussions around Kennedy's plans for SNAP may become a focal point for both supporters and critics. The outcome could define the future of federal nutritional policy and significantly influence public health strategies under the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy is scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday.
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