In the past 42 years, I’ve worked with the administrations of Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush II, Obama, Trump, Biden, and now, again, Trump. The adage, “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” always resonated with me. No more. This administration is breaking the norms. As the President declared at the World Economic Summit, his election is “nothing less than a revolution of common sense.”

At President Trump’s inaugural address, he stated, “Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization. So, as we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success. We will not be deterred. Together, we will end the chronic disease epidemic and keep our children safe, healthy, and disease-free.”  

I have never heard or seen such a stridently uttered position on the debacle of our disease-focused healthcare system. I have also never seen such bold Presidential nominations. What does this mean for our industry? Can this change how independent retailers interact with customers who rely on their ability to inform and educate customers? What reform actions might a Republican-led Congress enact to ensure all Americans, not just those with disposable income, have access to quality food and supplements? Will the new heads of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture make the regulatory changes we require? Can we finally change how we label grassfed beef? How do we ensure a future for the organic farmer or remove pesticides from school lunches? Can we trust that changes at the FDA will enable sensible changes to what constitutes a sensible qualified health claim or perhaps redefine the term disease itself?  

With 30 years of DSHEA under our belts, we are acutely aware of what changes we want and the obstacles that prevent that change. We are also very well versed in the food-related issues that cause chronic disease. So what happens next? That’s up to us.

It’s time to dust off all of our wish lists. Here are some actionable items to start with:  

• Transform the DSHEA at 30 conversations and turn it into a white paper that we can all work from. 
• Engage in the grassroots initiatives being developed now. My Health Alliance, representing more than 3.5 million people, is a collaboration of like-minded organizations headed to Capitol Hill in May. Each organization will craft its messaging and schedule visits with Congressional offices. 
• Collaborate with like-minded organizations and companies who want the same outcomes, and expand our Make America Healthy Again voice. 
• Participate, participate, participate. The Make Texans Healthy Again movement didn’t wait for the Trump victory. They are already making big strides to change their healthcare systems, reduce costs, and ease the burden on healthcare providers, while emphasizing preventive care and holistic wellness. Many states will follow suit.