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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release August 15, 1996

      PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES LESLIE L. BYRNE TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE 
       OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 
                             HUMAN SERVICES

The President announced today his intent to appoint Leslie L. Byrne to be Director of the Office of Consumer Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Leslie L. Byrne of Falls Church, Virginia, is currently a writer, lecturer and business consultant on political and governmental issues. Previously, she served as a Member of Congress, representing Virginia's 11th District. Ms. Byrne was the first woman ever elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Before joining Congress, she was elected four times to the Virginia House of Delegates, where she served from 1985 to 1992. Her legislative career was highlighted by many strong consumer initiatives. In both the Virginia Legislature and Congress, she pushed for a patient bill of rights in hospitals and nursing homes. She also worked energetically on efforts to combat nursing home and cemetery fraud. In 1985, she co-founded Quintech Associates Inc., where she served as president until she was elected to Congress. Ms. Byrne attended the University of Utah.

The Office of Consumer Affairs is administratively overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services, but reports to the President. The Director advises the White House and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on consumer-related policy and programs and is responsible for handling consumer matters.

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