The Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services is a position within the United States Department of Agriculture responsible for administrating the Department's fifteen nutrition and food security programs and for promoting the dietary guidelines.
The food assistance programs have a combined budget of $58 billion and include the Food Stamp Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and the Commodity Distribution Programs. In addition, the Undersecretary oversees the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, which leads the development of the 2010 dietary guidelines and which promotes the guidelines through the Food Guide Pyramid (MyPyramid.gov).[1]
Goals of the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services include combatting obesity, promoting better eating and physical activity habits, and helping needy families obtain a nutritious diet.[1] According to The New York Times, the nutrition segment of the Department of Agriculture composed 53% of the Department's budget at the time of the creation of the position.[2]
The Under Secretary is appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. She manages the Food and Nutrition Services and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.[3]
List of Under Secretaries
- Nancy Montanez Johner is the incumbent Under Secretary and was sworn in on August 21, 2006.[4]
- Eric M. Bost, who served from June 18, 2001 until July 20, 2006,[2][5]
- Shirley Robinson Watkins[6], who served from 1997 to 2001,[7] and
- Ellen Haas, who served from 1993 to 1997.[8]
- Mary Ann Keeffe served as Acting Under Secretary between their administrations.[9] The position was created on September 7, 1993, when Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy announced that title of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Food and Consumer Services would be elevated to the present Under Secretary of Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services title.[2]
- ^ a b ""Bost, Eric M."". http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/0/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=bios_bost.xml#7_2_5JM. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
- ^ a b c Burros, Marian (September 8, 1993). "Agriculture Dept. Is Putting More Emphasis on Nutrition". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9F0CE0DA113EF93BA3575AC0A965958260.
- ^ ""US CODE: Title 7,6951. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services"". http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode07/usc_sec_07_00006951----000-.html. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
- ^ ""Nancy Montanez Johner Biographies"". http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=bios_johner.xml. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
- ^ ""Bost, Eric M."". http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/69265.htm. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
- ^ ""PRESIDENT NAMES SHIRLEY ROBINSON WATKINS TO BE UNDER SECRETARY"". http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/1997/05/0171. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
- ^ ""USDA NEWS\VOL 60 NO. 5\Roundup\E. Bost"". http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/newslett/old/vol60no5/bost.htm. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
- ^ ""Fast Weight Loss, Childhood Obesity & Low Fat Diets - Biographies". http://www.foodfit.com/about/bios.asp. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
- ^ ""USDANEWS/Editor's Roundup/Shirley Watkins"". http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/newslett/old/vol56no7/watkins.htm. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
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