GLICKMAN TO VISIT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, ANNOUNCE BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION


                                            Release No. 0256.97
                                                               
                                    Johna Pierce (202) 720-4623
                                          johna.pierce@usda.gov
                                Phil Shanholtzer (703) 305-2286
                                  phil_shanholtzer@fcs.usda.gov
                                                               
GLICKMAN TO VISIT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, ANNOUNCE BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION 
  PROJECT

     WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman will
announce the kickoff of USDA's new breastfeeding promotion project Wednesday
during an 11:00 a.m. visit to Children's Hospital in Washington.

     Secretary Glickman, who has proclaimed the week beginning August 1 as
WIC National Breastfeeding Week, will be joined by Children's Hospital
officials, along with WIC mothers and breastfeeding peer counselors, for the
announcement in the Hospital's atrium.  USDA is launching its year-long
breastfeeding promotion project, which will provide materials and support to
states to use to encourage breastfeeding among their WIC participants.

     A video news release on the breastfeeding promotion project will be
issued on the regular USDA satellite feed on Thursday from 4:15-4:30 p.m.
ET.  It will include footage from the Wednesday announcement and from a
Children's Hospital WIC clinic, along with public service announcements that
states will use in their breastfeeding promotions.  Satellite coordinates
for receiving the VNR are: Galaxy 9 (C-band), Transponder 1, Vertical
Polarity, Downlink Frequency 3720 MHZ, Audio 6.2 and 6.8.

     WIC -- the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,
and Children -- is one of the 15 nutrition assistance programs offered by
USDA.  In addition to providing supplemental foods and health referrals, the
program works actively to promote breastfeeding among its participants.

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