KEEFFE NAMED ACTING UNDER SECRETARY

                                              Release No. 0050.97

                                       Jim Borland (202) 690-0469
                                    Darlene Barnes (703) 305-2286

KEEFFE NAMED ACTING UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOOD, NUTRITION, AND CONSUMER       
SERVICES

     WASHINGTON,  Feb. 18, 1997--Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Richard
Rominger today announced that Mary Ann Keeffe will serve as Acting Under
Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services until a successor to
Under Secretary Ellen Haas is confirmed.  Haas resigned effective February
14, 1997.

     "Mary Ann brings a strong background and excellent first-hand
knowledge of USDA's 15 food assistance programs to this position," Rominger
said.  "She has demonstrated not only a clear understanding of the program
issues but also a sincere concern for the people these programs serve.  As
we move forward with implementation of welfare reform and improving school
meals, Mary Ann is well suited to lead the mission area at this critical
time."

     Keeffe has served as Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and
Consumer Services since  March of 1996, working with the Under Secretary in
policy development and program planning for the Food and Consumer Service's
15 nutrition assistance programs including the Nation's largest food
assistance program - the Food Stamp Program.  Prior to her appointment as
deputy under secretary Keeffe served for 2 «  years as Deputy Administrator
for Special Nutrition Programs at USDA's Food and Consumer Service where she
oversaw the day to day management of child nutrition programs, including the
School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; the Special Supplemental Food
Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC; the Commodity
Distribution Programs; and nutrition education and technical services
activities.

     Keeffe brings to her new position many years of administrative and
analytical experience in both the public and private sectors.  Before
serving at USDA, Keeffe was the Research Director for the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters for eight years and an economist with the
Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress for sixteen years.

     A native of Pennsylvania, Keeffe graduated from Barat College in Lake
Forest, Illinois.  She is married to a Washington attorney and the mother of
four children.

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