[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 50 (Monday, December 20, 1999)]
[Pages 2620-2621]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Office of Management and Budget's Report on the Federal 
Government's Readiness for the Year 2000

December 14, 1999

    With the end of the year in sight, I am pleased to announce that 
OMB's final quarterly report shows that the Federal Government is ready 
for the year 2000. As of today, 99.9 percent of the Government's 
mission-critical computer systems are Y2K compliant. They have been 
fixed, tested, and certified as ready for operation on January 1, 2000. 
We have met the challenge of making sure that the Federal Government can 
continue to serve the American people as we enter the next century.
    Three years ago when we started our intensive work on Y2K, only one-
fifth of the mission-critical systems was ready. Many said that the 
Federal Government was not up to the job, that the deadline would not be 
met, and that the price tag would be exorbitant, as much as $50 billion.
    Today, the facts are clear: We have done our job; we have met the 
deadline; and we have done well below cost projections. I want to thank 
the thousands of dedicated men and women of the Federal Government, who 
spent long hours, late nights, and many weekends getting us ready for 
the new year. Many of these same people will be mobilized and working 
throughout the New Year's weekend. Thanks to them, we have every reason 
to approach the changeover with confidence about the operations of the 
Federal Government.
    However, no amount of preparation can prevent glitches. For this 
reason, there are backup plans, so that the critical functions of the 
Federal Government can continue.
    For many others, including smaller businesses and local governments, 
there is still work to do between now and the end of the year. I urge 
them to make every effort possible to fix as many computer systems as 
they can and to develop contingency plans if they are needed.

[[Page 2621]]

    As we turn our thoughts to a new year, Americans have every right to 
be proud of the work of their Government and its employees. They will 
continue to work vigilantly through the holidays and into the new year 
so that America may celebrate the arrival of a new millennium.