Secretary Kennedy Visits Alaska to Highlight Tribal and Rural Health Priorities

WASHINGTON—AUGUST 13, 2025—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. traveled to Alaska last week to highlight the vital role of rural hospitals and affirm his deep commitment to Tribal communities. U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski hosted Secretary Kennedy for two of the days showcasing the state’s health care challenges and successes and promoting the benefits of President Trump’s historic One Big Beautiful Bill.

“I’m deeply grateful to Senator Sullivan and Senator Murkowski for their warm welcome and for bringing me to Alaska to meet the people shaping health care on the front lines,” Secretary Kennedy said. “I want to especially thank the Tribal leaders and rural providers who shared their stories, challenges, and vision for their communities. Native health is not a footnote in my administration—it’s a top priority. We’re committed to strengthening rural hospitals, upholding Tribal sovereignty, and delivering real results through bold federal reforms like the One Big Beautiful Bill’s Rural Health Transformation Fund.”

“It was great welcoming Secretary Kennedy to Alaska to meet with key health care stakeholders and discuss our state’s unique challenges, especially in rural and Native communities,” Senator Sullivan said. “Secretary Kennedy reiterated his strong commitment to improving health care access in Alaska and clarified that the One Big Beautiful Bill does not cut Medicare or Medicaid funding. I look forward to working with him to implement its major provisions and deploy the hundreds of millions coming to strengthen our health care system.”

“Health care in Alaska is uniquely challenging due to our vast geography, provider shortages, and limited infrastructure—making consistent, quality care difficult to access, especially in rural areas. I’ve visited villages and remote communities across the state to see clinics, talk with providers, and hear directly from Alaskans about their experiences. Their stories continue to drive me to fight for better access and affordability, because for Alaskans, timely care can literally mean the difference between life and death,” Senator Murkowski said. “I appreciate Secretary Kennedy spending time in Alaska to hear from those working every day to improve the health and well-being of Alaskans, and I look forward to working with him and his team to turn those insights into lasting change.”

On August 5, Secretary Kennedy began his visit in Anchorage where Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Southcentral Foundation leaders guided him through the Alaska Native Medical Center. He then joined Tribal leaders at the Alaska Mega Meeting, chaired by Chief Bill Smith, for a roundtable on Medicaid access, tribal self-governance, food sovereignty, and rural health care.

Later that day, Secretary Kennedy joined Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, Chief Smith, and Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation President Dan Winkelman for a press conference where he emphasized the Administration’s unwavering focus on Tribal and rural health.

That afternoon, Secretary Kennedy met with leaders from Alaska’s Sole Community and Regional Hospitals, including Fairbanks Memorial, Central Peninsula, Bartlett Regional, Mat-Su Regional, Alaska Regional, and Providence. The roundtable addressed the unique challenges facing rural hospitals and showcased how the Rural Health Transformation Fund can revitalize these facilities and position them for long-term success.

On August 6, Senators Sullivan and Murkowski joined Secretary Kennedy in Fairbanks for a tour of the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center, led by Tanana Chiefs Conference leadership.

Secretary Kennedy then traveled to Tanana Village, where he held a working lunch with the Tribal Council and engaged with students and community members at the Maudrey J. Sommer School. He wrapped up the day with a visit to the Tanana Health Clinic, hosted by Executive Director Victor Joseph, and toured the site of the new health clinic, now under construction.

On August 7, Secretary Kennedy traveled to Kenai, where he met with leaders of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe for a roundtable focused on specific ways HHS’ Indian Health Services can help with pressing issues. Following the discussion, Tribal leaders led him on a tour of the Dena’ina Wellness Center and the Tribal Henu Community Wellness Court. Secretary Kennedy then visited two high tunnel greenhouses, a hydroponics container farm, and a community garden— highlighting the Tribe’s forward-thinking approach to nutrition, community wellness, and food sovereignty.

Secretary Kennedy spent lunch with Tribal leaders discussing the urgent challenges facing local fisheries, including the decline of king salmon populations and its impact on food security and cultural traditions. Following the meal, he toured the Kenaitze Tribe’s educational fishery facility, where he learned about the Tribe’s efforts to restore salmon runs, engage youth in traditional practices, and protect long-term sustainability through hands-on stewardship and environmental education.

Secretary Kennedy concluded his trip on August 8 in Soldotna, where Knik Tribal Council's Richie Porter and Cook Inlet Tribal Council President Gloria O’Neill shared insights into the Tribe’s innovative approaches to nutrition, wellness, and community health—and their leadership in building a healthier future for Native communities.