[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11449-S11450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE YEAR 2000 COMPUTER PROBLEM

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, yesterday I introduced S. 2131, a 
bill to establish a bipartisan National Commission on the Year 2000 
Computer Problem. I ask that the permanent Record be changed to include 
the text of the bill at the beginning of my remarks. I further ask that 
the title of my remarks yesterday be corrected to read ``A National 
Commission on The Year 2000 Computer Problem.''
  The text of the bill follows:

       Sec. 1. Short title.--(A) This title may be cited as the 
     ``Commission on the Year 2000 Computer Problem Act.''
       Sec. 2. Findings.--The Congress makes the following 
     findings:
       (A) Whereas the Congress of the United States recognizes 
     the existence of a severe computer problem that may have 
     extreme negative economic and national security consequences 
     in the year 2000 and beyond.
       (B) Whereas most computer programs (particularly in 
     mainframes) in both the public and private sector express 
     dates with only two digits and assume the first two digits 
     are ``19'', and that therefore most programs read 00-01-01 as 
     January 1, 1900; and that these programs will not recognize 
     the year 2000 or the 21st century without a massive rewriting 
     of codes.
       (C) Whereas the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has 
     completed a report on the implications of the ``Year 2000 
     Computer Problem'' and according to CRS, each line of 
     computer code will need to be analyzed and either passed on 
     or be rewritten and this worldwide problem could cost as much 
     as $600 billion to repair. We recognize that no small share 
     of the American burden will fall on the shoulders of the 
     Federal Government and on State and local governments.
       (D) Whereas six issues need to be addressed:
       (1) an analysis of the history and background concerning 
     the reasons for the occurence of the Year 2000 problem;
       (2) the cost of reviewing and rewriting codes for both the 
     Federal and State governments over the next 3 years, 
     including a legal analysis of responsibilities for such costs 
     and possible equitable bases for sharing them;
       (3) the time it will take to get the job done and, if not 
     by 2000, what agencies are at risk of not being able to 
     perform basic services;
       (4) the development of balanced and sound contracts with 
     the computer industry available for use by Federal agencies, 
     and if such outside contractual assistance is needed, to 
     assist such agencies in contracting for and effectuating Year 
     2000 compliance for current computer programs and systems as 
     well to ensure Year 2000 compliance for all programs and 
     systems acquired in the future;
       (5) an analysis of what happens to the United States 
     economy if the problem is not resolved by mid-1999;
       (6) recommendations to the President and the Congress 
     concerning lessons to be learned and policies and actions to 
     be taken in the future to minimize the Year 2000 public and 
     private sector costs and risks.
       (E) Whereas the Congress recognizes that an Executive 
     Branch Interagency Committee has been established to raise 
     awareness of this problem and facilitate efforts at solving 
     it; but that in order to best minimize the impact and cost of 
     this problem, and recognizing the extreme urgency of this 
     problem, this bipartisan commission will be established to 
     both address these issues and take responsibility for 
     assuring that all Federal agencies be computer compliant by 
     January 1, 1999.
       Sec. 3. Establishment of Commission.--(A) There is 
     established a commission to be known as the ``National 
     Commission on the Year 2000 Computer Problem'' (hereinafter 
     in this section referred to as the ``Commission''). The 
     Commission shall be composed of 15 members appointed or 
     designated by the President and selected as follows:
       (1) Five members selected by the President from among 
     officers or employees of the Executive Branch, private 
     citizens of the United States, or both. Not more than three 
     of the members selected by the President shall be members 
     of the same political party;
       (2) Five members selected by the President Pro Tempore of 
     the Senate, in consultation with the Majority and Minority 
     Leaders, from among officers or employers of the Senate, 
     private citizens of the United States, or both. Not more than 
     three of the members selected by the President Pro Tempore 
     shall be members of the same political party;
       (3) Five members selected by the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, in consultation with the Majority and 
     Minority Leaders, from among members of the House, private 
     citizens of the United States, or both. Not more than three 
     of the members selected by the Speaker shall be members of 
     the same political party.
       (B) The President shall designate a Chairman from among the 
     members of the Commission.
       Sec. 4. Function of Commission.--(A) It shall be the 
     function of the Commission to conduct a study on the 
     historical, current and long term condition of computer 
     programs as they relate to date fields and the year 2000; 
     identify problems that threaten the proper functions of 
     computers as the public and private sectors approach the 21st 
     Century; analyze potential solutions to such problems that 
     will address the brief time there remains to meet this 
     problem, the substantial cost of reviewing and rewriting 
     codes, and the shared responsibilities for such costs; and 
     provide appropriate recommendations (including potential 
     balanced and sound contracts with the computer industry 
     available for use by Federal agencies) to the Secretary of 
     Defense (as this is a matter of National Security), the 
     President and the Congress.
       (B) the Commission shall submit to Congress a final report 
     containing such recommendations concerning the Year 2000 
     Computer problem; including proposing new procedures, rules, 
     regulations, or legislation that is needed to ensure the 
     proper transition of the computers of the Federal Government 
     and local and State governments from the year 1999 to the 
     year 2000.
       (C) the Commission shall make its report to the President 
     by December 31, 1997.
       Sec. 5. Administration.--(A) The heads of Executive 
     Agencies shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide the 
     Commission such information as it may require for the purpose 
     of carrying out its functions.
       (B) Members of the Commission shall serve without any 
     additional compensation for their work on the Commission.
       (C) Travel Expenses.--While away from their homes or 
     regular places of business in the performance of services for 
     the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed 
     travel expenses including per diem in lieu of substance, in 
     the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 
     Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) 
     of title 5, United States Code.
       (D) The Commission shall have a staff headed by an 
     Executive Director. Any expenses of the Commission shall be 
     paid from such funds as may be available to the Secretary of 
     Defense.

[[Page S11450]]

       Sec. 6. Termination.--(A) The Commission, and all the 
     authorities of this title, shall terminate thirty days after 
     submitting its report.

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