[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 29, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S979-S980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING AND THANKING CHAIRMAN ROBERT F. BENNETT AND VICE 
 CHAIRMAN CHRISTOPHER J. DODD AND THE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE 
                  ON THE YEAR 2000 TECHNOLOGY PROBLEM

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 264, submitted 
earlier by Senators Lott, Daschle, Moynihan, Stevens, and Byrd.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 264) congratulating and thanking 
     Chairman Robert F. Bennett and Vice Chairman Christopher J. 
     Dodd for their tremendous leadership, poise, and dedication 
     in leading the Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology 
     Problem and commending the members of the Committee for their 
     fine work.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, as the Special Committee on the Year 
2000 Technology Problem prepares to release its final report and 
disband today, I think it is only appropriate to thank our Chairman 
Robert F. Bennett and Vice Chairman Christopher J. Dodd for the 
tremendous job that they did. They assembled the committee, held 
hearings to measure the problem, and in the end led the nation and 
world in ameliorating it. Well done.
  We are told that nothing is more permanent than ``temporary,'' 
especially with regard to congressional committees. But our special 
committee did its job, in the time allotted--under Senate Resolution 
208, the committee was to

[[Page S980]]

last from April 2, 1998 to February 29, 2000--and now it will be no 
more.
  I am pleased to join the Democrat leader, Senator Daschle, and others 
in introducing a resolution that congratulates and thanks the chairman 
and vice chairman for their fine leadership and work.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and, finally, any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 264) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 264

       Whereas Senator Robert F. Bennett and Senator Christopher 
     J. Dodd had the foresight to urge Majority Leader Lott and 
     Senator Daschle to establish the Special Committee on the 
     Year 2000 Technology Problem under Senate Resolution on April 
     2, 1998;
       Whereas under Chairman Bennett's and Vice Chairman Dodd's 
     leadership, the Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology 
     Problem always acted in a bipartisan manner;
       Whereas Chairman Bennett and Vice Chairman Dodd presided 
     over 35 hearings on various aspects of technology 
     infrastructure including utilities, health care, 
     telecommunications, transportation, financial services, 
     Government involvement, and litigation;
       Whereas the Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology 
     Problem became the central repository for Y2K computer 
     problem information both nationally and internationally;
       Whereas Chairman Bennett and Vice Chairman Dodd guided the 
     Senate in working with the White House, the House of 
     Representatives, the United Nations, and other international 
     organizations, and the private sector in addressing the Y2K 
     computer problem;
       Whereas under Chairman Bennett's and Vice Chairman Dodd's 
     leadership, the Committee issued 3 excellent reports that 
     quickly became the authoritative source on the progress of 
     the Federal Government, the private sector, and foreign 
     countries on the Y2K computer problem;
       Whereas Chairman Bennett, Vice Chairman Dodd and the 
     Committee helped the Federal Government, industry, nations, 
     and global enterprises learn that by working together we can 
     solve the kinds of technology problems we will likely face in 
     the 21st century;
       Whereas Chairman Bennett and Vice Chairman Dodd always 
     conducted hearings in a thoughtful and judicious manner, with 
     the intent of addressing key issues so that the Senate could 
     better evaluate and solve the problem;
       Whereas because of Chairman Bennett's and Vice Chairman 
     Dodd's initiative, the Nation and the world began to take the 
     Y2K computer problem seriously and worked to resolve the 
     problem; and
       Whereas due to Chairman Bennett's and Vice Chairman Dodd's 
     tremendous leadership, dedication, and the work of the 
     Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem, the 
     first potential catastrophe of the new century was avoided: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate congratulates and thanks Chairman 
     Robert F. Bennett and Vice Chairman Christopher J. Dodd--
       (1) for their tremendous leadership in addressing a massive 
     and pervasive problem; a problem that was largely unknown, 
     but thanks to Chairman Bennett and Vice Chairman Dodd was 
     studied, evaluated, and resolved;
       (2) for presiding over the Special Committee on the Year 
     2000 Technology Problem which did its work in a bipartisan 
     and fair manner; and
       (3) for helping the Government and the Nation minimize the 
     Y2K computer problem.

  Mr. REED. I yield the floor.

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