[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE INTRODUCTION OF THE Y2K STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE 
                              PROGRAMS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 1999

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, our contemporary world is ever more 
dependent upon computers to assist with and manage our daily lives. 
From the ATM Machine to the desktop PC, to the pacemaker to air traffic 
control systems--computers and their myriad of programs all work in 
concert to make our lives better and more productive. On my home island 
of Guam, computers have improved mass communication with the mainland 
and overseas areas in all facets of life--law, business, government, 
commerce, military, trade, transportation and perhaps most important: 
staying in touch with our families. Because our lives are so 
intertwined with computers, the Year 2000 or Y2K problem may pose quite 
a crippling problem to many communities. The Y2K problem was created by 
a programming oversight. As a result of an archaic, two-digit dating 
system in computer software and hardware, vital systems may be knocked 
off-line on January 1, 2000 creating cyber-havoc for many. This concern 
has led the General Accounting Office to elect the Y2K problem to the 
top of the ``High Risk'' list for every federal agency.
  There exists a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, requested 
at the behest of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan over three years ago, 
detailing the implication of the Y2K problem. The report states, among 
other things, that the Year 2000 problem is a serious problem and the 
cost of rectifying it will indeed be rather high.
  The Federal Government has become rather proficient in getting its 
agencies and departments to comply with the inevitable re-programming 
that is required to fixing this bug. But not without some effort. The 
Senate and the House of Representatives have truly taken the lead on 
this pressing issue. Under the gentle prodding of Senators Moynihan, 
Bennett, and Dodd as well as Congressman Steve Horn, the President 
appointed a Y2K Council to get the government focused on this issue. 
They have done well enough that many citizens do not fear the year's 
end despite the rhetoric of many doomsayers. That said, to paraphrase 
Robert Frost, we have many miles to go before we sleep.
  Up until today, states, territories and local authorities have been 
left to their own devices in terms of fixing the Year 2000 problem. 
While most of the Federal Government's critical services may be Y2K 
compliant by January 1, 2000, many of the states and local 
jurisdictions will not be. This includes the territories. In Guam, for 
example, the local Office of the Public Auditor released a study 
outlining the territorial Y2K problem. While some of GovGuam's 
departments are Y2K compliant ahead of schedule many are not. Guam's 
Department of Public Works and the Department of Public Health and 
Social Services--both lifeblood agencies for both Guam's public 
infrastructure and poor and handicapped--do not have enough money or 
are behind schedule in performing Y2K conversions. And the story is the 
same throughout the country in the many cities, counties, towns and 
territories: time is running out or the money has already ran out.
  This bill, which I am introducing today will establish a program that 
will allow states and territories to apply for funding to initiate Y2K 
conversions of state computer systems, which distribute federal money 
for vital welfare programs such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, the 
supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, Child 
Support Enforcement, Child Care and Child Welfare and Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families. Through the application of Y2K technical 
assistance funds for these programs, we can insure that the lifeblood 
of many of the poorest Americans will not be disrupted by the turn of 
the calendar.
  This vital legislation is the house companion bill to the Moynihan-
Bennett-Dodd bill (S. 174) as introduced in the Senate. We have 
modified the original Senate vehicle to insure that the territories and 
the District of Columbia will not be excluded from this important 
program--an apparent and accidental oversight of the Senate version. I 
urge all my colleagues to support this bi-partisan, fiscally 
responsible and necessary legislation. I would like to thank my 
colleagues Ms. Christian-Christensen, Ms. Norton, Mr. Romero-Barcelo 
and Mr. Faleomaevega for lending their support as the representatives 
from the territories of the U.S. Finally, I want to especially thank 
Representative Horn and Senators Moynihan, Bennett, and Dodd for taking 
the lead on educating all Americans on the Y2K problem as well as 
legislating wise solutions to ameliorate its potentially harmful 
effects.

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