Lugar Announces Ambitious February Committee Schedule

January 19, 2000

Six hearings in the first 10 days of February are planned by the Senate Agriculture Committee. Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN) announced the schedule Tuesday.

--The committee will examine agriculture business concentration Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. with an emphasis on the authority of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.

--The committee will hold an oversight hearing Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. on water quality regulations proposed in August by the Environmental Protection Agency. The regulations would affect agriculture and forestry.

--The committee will examine a proposed loan guarantee program Feb. 3 at 9 a.m. which would provide money to rural satellite can cable systems for delivery of local broadcast stations to viewers who do not have access to local television channels.

--The committee will review dairy policy Feb. 8 at 9 a.m. focusing on two questions: Why do we have a dairy program? And What is the status of the dairy industry in America?

--The committee will review the milk pricing system Feb. 9 at 9 a.m.

--The committee will review Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. the findings of a presidential working group report on over the counter derivatives markets and the Commodity Exchange Act.

All the hearings are scheduled to be held in room 328A, Senate Russell Building.