Reps. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, and Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, applauded the recent executive order from Gov. Kevin Stitt launching the "Make Oklahoma Healthy Again" (MOHA) initiative. The push aligns with President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s national “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, which emphasizes cutting artificial additives in food, addressing environmental toxins and reducing chronic disease through cleaner living. 

The order includes a comprehensive review regarding the use of artificial food coloring, including Red Dye 40, and the creation of the MOHA Initiative and the MOHA Advisory Council within the Oklahoma State Department of Health, among other initiatives.  

In addition to the order, the governor announced he had directed the Department of Human Services (DHS) to request a waiver from the federal government to exclude candy and soft drinks from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Hill filed legislation to provide the same directive to DHS earlier this year.  

"This is the kind of big-picture thinking Oklahoma needs," Hill said. "We are finally taking the blinders off and looking at what contributes to poor public health outcomes across the board. Health starts with what we put in our bodies, not just how we treat them after we get sick. We've tackled the symptoms for years, but now is the time to address the root causes. By excluding candy and soft drinks from SNAP benefits, we can properly allocate taxpayer funds to healthy foods that improve the health of Oklahomans. With Governor Stitt's willingness to lead on this issue and support from Secretary Kennedy, we now have the momentum to become the national leader in clean living and modern health policy."

 West has coauthored legislation that would address the overabundance of certain chemicals, dyes and substances in food products. She also requested an interim study this year to examine how synthetic food additives affect public health and impact the state's workforce productivity.

 "The health and well-being of Oklahomans are the foundation of our state’s strength and prosperity," West said. "Unfortunately, the long-term effects of chemicals, dyes and additives in our food and water supplies are too often ignored in public health discussions. Safe food and clean water shouldn't be political; they should be a priority. I thank Governor Stitt and Secretary Kennedy for opening the door to review these outdated practices and get upstream of our poor health outcomes before it's too late. I look forward to supporting policies that reflect our shared commitment to Oklahoma's well-being."  

The initiative will not require any additional taxpayer funds and will instead utilize existing state resources, philanthropic partnerships, federal grants and support from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.