[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 41 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3185-S3186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS THE YEAR 2000 TECHNOLOGY PROBLEM

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate resolution 208, 
submitted earlier today by Senator Lott.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection. The clerk will report the 
resolution.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 208) to establish a special committee 
     of the Senate to address the year 2000 technology problem.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.

[[Page S3186]]

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and that any statements related to the resolution appear at this 
point in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 208) was agreed to, as follows:

                              S. Res. 208

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a special 
     committee of the Senate to be known as the Special Committee 
     on the Year 2000 Technology Problem (hereafter in this 
     resolution referred to as the ``special committee'').
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the special committee is--
       (1) to study the impact of the year 2000 technology problem 
     on the Executive and Judicial Branches of the Federal 
     Government, State governments, and private sector operations 
     in the United States and abroad;
       (2) to make such findings of fact as are warranted and 
     appropriate; and
       (3) to make such recommendations, including recommendations 
     for new legislation and amendments to existing laws and any 
     administrative or other actions, as the special committee may 
     determine to be necessary or desirable.

     No proposed legislation shall be referred to the special 
     committee, and the committee shall not have power to report 
     by bill, or otherwise have legislative jurisdiction.
       (c) Treatment as Standing Committee.--For purposes of 
     paragraphs 1, 2, 7(a)(1)-(2), and 10(a) of rule XXVI and rule 
     XXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and section 202 
     (i) and (j) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, 
     the special committee shall be treated as a standing 
     committee of the Senate.

     SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) Membership.--
       (1) In general.--The special committee shall consist of 7 
     members of the Senate--
       (A) 4 of whom shall be appointed by the President pro 
     tempore of the Senate from the majority party of the Senate 
     upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate; 
     and
       (B) 3 of whom shall be appointed by the President pro 
     tempore of the Senate from the minority party of the Senate 
     upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate.

     The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the 
     Appropriations Committee shall be appointed ex-offico 
     members.
       (2) Vacancies.--Vacancies in the membership of the special 
     committee shall not affect the authority of the remaining 
     members to execute the functions of the special committee and 
     shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments 
     to it are made.
       (3) Service.--For the purpose of paragraph 4 of rule XXV of 
     the Standing Rules of the Senate, service of a Senator as a 
     member, chairman, or vice chairman of the special committee 
     shall not be taken into account.
       (b) Chairman.--The chairman of the special committee shall 
     be selected by the Majority Leader of the Senate and the vice 
     chairman of the special committee shall be selected by the 
     Minority Leader of the Senate. The vice chairman shall 
     discharge such responsibilities as the special committee or 
     the chairman may assign.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) In General.--For the purposes of this resolution, the 
     special committee is authorized, in its discretion--
       (1) to make expenditures from the contingent fund of the 
     Senate;
       (2) to employ personnel;
       (3) to hold hearings;
       (4) to sit and act at any time or place during the 
     sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the Senate;
       (5) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of 
     witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, 
     papers, and documents;
       (6) to take depositions and other testimony;
       (7) to procure the services of individual consultations or 
     organizations thereof, in accordance with the provisions of 
     section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946; 
     and
       (8) with the prior consent of the Government department or 
     agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration, to use on a nonreimbursable basis the 
     services of personnel of any such department or agency.
       (b) Oaths for Witnesses.--The chairman of the special 
     committee or any member thereof may administer oaths to 
     witnesses.
       (c) Subpoenas.--Subpoenas authorized by the special 
     committee may be issued over the signature of the chairman 
     after consultation with the vice chairman, or any member of 
     the special committee designated by the chairman after 
     consultation with the vice chairman, and may be served by any 
     person designated by the chairman or the member signing the 
     subpoena.
       (d) Other Committee Staff.--The special committee may use, 
     with the prior consent of the chairman of any other Senate 
     committee or the chairman of any subcommittee of any 
     committee of the Senate and on a nonreimbuseable basis, the 
     facilities or services of any members of the staff of such 
     other Senate committee whenever the special committee or its 
     chairman, following consultation with the vice chairman, 
     considers that such action is necessary or appropriate to 
     enable the special committee to make the investigation and 
     study provided for in this resolution.
       (e) Use of Office Space.--The staff of the special 
     committee may be located in the personal office of a Member 
     of the special committee.

     SEC. 4. REPORT AND TERMINATION.

       The special committee shall report its findings, together 
     with such recommendations as it deems advisable, to the 
     Senate at the earliest practicable date.

     SEC. 5. FUNDING.

       (a) In General.--From the date this resolution is agreed to 
     through February 29, 2000, the expenses of the special 
     committee incurred under this resolution shall not exceed 
     $575,000 for the period beginning on the date of adoption of 
     this resolution through February 28, 1999, and $575,000 for 
     the period of March 1, 1999 through February 29, 2000, of 
     which amount not to exceed $200,000 shall be available for 
     each period for the procurement of the services of individual 
     consultants, or organizations thereof, as authorized by 
     section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.
       (b) Payment of Benefits.--The retirement and health 
     benefits of employees of the special committee shall be paid 
     out of the contingent fund of the Senate.

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