LETTER DATED 29 NOVEMBER 2000

Dear Mr. Strimbeck:

Thank you for your most recent letter regarding your continued interest, and that of the Upper Monongahela Committee for Better Boating, in the hours of operation of the locks and dams on the Monongahela River. It was thoughtful of you to send me copies of the Committee's Christmas Card and calendar for the new year.

I am pleased to know that you received the information that I recently sent to you from the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that the material will be helpful to you in analyzing the lock hours issue. In addition, pursuant to your request, I am enclosing a copy of the conference report accompanying the Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill which contains provisions for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in FY 2001. I hope that you find this information helpful.

With kind regards, I am

Sincerely yours, /s/ Robert C. Byrd

RCB:cdw

Enclosure