GALLUP, N.M. – U.S. Secretary of Human and Health Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., visited Hozo Academy Charter School in Gallup, New Mexico. The visit was part of his three-day “Make America Healthy Again” multistate tour, which took place from Monday, April 7 to Wednesday, April 9. The tour also included stops in Utah and Arizona.
During her visit, Secretary Kennedy met with elected officials, tribal leaders, nutrition experts and charter school visionaries and vowed to fulfill President Donald Trump’s promise to “Make America Healthy Again,” according to a U.S. government news release. “They told me about some of the great things you (Hozo Academy) are doing. The most important thing is the food. The food we eat right now is toxic. If you buy and eat packaged food, it almost certainly contains toxic substances,” Kennedy told students and faculty during her visit Wednesday.
Secretary Kennedy arrived at the Hozo Academy Charter School Wednesday afternoon and gave a brief speech to students in grades Pre-K through 11 and school officials on how he believes healthy eating and physical fitness can be integrated into students’ daily lives. Shortly thereafter, he toured the school cafeteria. Members of the media followed him, patiently waiting outside the school auditorium for him to leave. According to school officials, Kennedy also plans to meet with physical education students and participate in after-school activities.
The measles outbreak has now spread to a third county in New Mexico. The most recent patient was unvaccinated. You are currently pushing for vaccinations (MMR vaccine: measles, mumps, rubella), but you are also sending mixed signals. What is your position? An unvaccinated child has been diagnosed with measles in Chaves County, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.
“I’m here to support President Trump, Robert Kennedy and their appointees. I believe they are doing what needs to be done. Some people don’t feel good about it, but it has to be done,” McKinley County Republican Party Chairman Jason Joe told KOAT. “In general, a lot of people always question it, and vaccines are one of the things we should question,” Joe said. “We are here because the science is truth and our health care is at risk,” McKinley County Democratic Party Chair Brenda Hoski.
“Robert Kennedy’s medical misrepresentation and incompetence in running the federal department will cost lives. Just weeks ago, Kennedy drastically cut key positions at the Department of Health and Human Services and closed key medical institutions, which will have catastrophic consequences for our nation’s medical infrastructure.” New Mexico Democratic Party Chair Jessica Velasquez said at a press conference on Robert Kennedy’s visit to New Mexico on Wednesday.
In April this year, Democratic attorneys general and governors of 23 states and Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The lawsuit claims that the billions of dollars in public health funding cuts are illegal and harmful.
Meanwhile, the New Mexico Republican Party expressed its gratitude to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy for visiting New Mexico. On Wednesday, the Republican Party issued the following statement in a press release: “The New Mexico Republican Party thanks U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for visiting today at Hozo College in Gallup, New Mexico.
The college is surrounded by the Navajo and Zuni nations. Secretary Kennedy’s visit underscores his deep commitment to meeting the health care and wellness needs of our tribal communities.”