Sen. Phil Gramm, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, has announced that he will join Senator Conrad Burns as an original co-sponsor of legislation that will provide federal loan guarantees to ensure that local television service is available in rural and remote areas of the United States.

The introduction of the legislation follows two Banking Committee hearings on rural television service and loan guarantees. The committee has jurisdiction over financial aid to commerce and industry, which includes federal loan guarantees.

Burns and Gramm will discuss the legislation at a news conference on Feb. 24.

WHO:

Senator Conrad Burns
Montana

Senator Phil Gramm
Chairman, Senate Banking Committee

WHAT:

News conference

WHEN:

3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000

WHERE:

Senate Radio-TV Gallery
Room S-325, U.S. Capitol