FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact (202) 225-1721
January 21, 1999
No. FC-3
Congressman Bill Archer (R-TX), Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Committee will hold a hearing on the Year 2000 or "Y2K" computer conversion efforts, remaining challenges, and implications for beneficiaries and taxpayers. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, February 24, 1999, in the main Committee hearing room, 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
In view of the limited time available to hear witnesses, oral testimony at this hearing will be from invited witnesses only. Witnesses will include officials of the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion; the Health Care Financing Administration; the Administration of Children and Families; the Social Security Administration (SSA); the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); the Financial Management Service (FMS); the U.S. Customs Service; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Witnesses will also include private sector organizations who represent program beneficiaries or taxpayers, as well as the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) and various Inspector Generals Offices. However, any individual or organization not scheduled for an oral appearance may submit a written statement for consideration by the Committee and for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing.
BACKGROUND:
The United States, with almost half the world's computer capacity and 60 percent of the world's Internet assets, is the most advanced, and the most dependent, producer and user of information technologies. Most computers, computer systems, and telecommunications networks in use in the Federal Government are currently undergoing modifications so that they will be able to continue to function properly in the year 2000 and beyond.
Most computers in use in the Federal Government have stored information for each year in a two-digit format, which makes the year 2000 indistinguishable from the year 1900. Unless they are changed, computer systems and telecommunications networks that are dependent on this two-digit year format can malfunction and cause costly problems for both commerce and government. Modifications have been underway for some time. Federal agencies, for the most part, are currently testing the renovated systems to make sure they will process transactions properly and produce accurate information. The agencies are also developing and testing contingency plans in the event of any failures.
Of particular concern for this hearing are the Federal programs within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means, including those administered by the U.S. Departments of Treasury, and Health and Human Services, plus SSA. Among the major programs affected are tax and trade administration, Medicare, and Social Security. The computers serving the programs within the Committee's jurisdiction affect more than 260 million Americans. The revenue programs affect every individual and business taxpayer, and the benefit programs impact the health and well-being of millions. These Americans rely on the vital services they receive and cannot afford to have them disrupted by computer failures, nor can they afford to have the computers produce erroneous penalty assessments or notices, or refund or benefit checks.
In response to Chairman Archer's request in the 105th Congress, the Subcommittee on Oversight held two hearings and issued a report to the Full Committee on August 19, 1998, on the implications of potential Y2K problems on program beneficiaries and taxpayers (WMCP: 105-10). The Subcommittee report concluded that, with the possible exception of SSA, which was found to be in a good position, services to taxpayers and beneficiaries may be disrupted or otherwise jeopardized by computer systems or telecommunications networks failures unless certain actions are taken by the Administration, Congress, and the private sector. The report made several recommendations to preclude Y2K-related failures, including comprehensive systems testing and contingency planning. Since the report's issuance, the Subcommittee has continued to monitor the agencies' Y2K progress, with the assistance of the GAO and Inspectors General Offices, and has seen considerable progress in the agencies' Y2K conversion efforts.
In announcing the hearing, Chairman Archer stated: "With more than 260 million Americans relying on vital services, we cannot afford to have disruptions because Y2K problems were not dealt with properly or expeditiously. The stakes are too high. We must get the job done, and done right."
FOCUS OF THE HEARING:
The hearing will explore the current status of Y2K renovation efforts, and the remaining challenges that agencies must overcome to ensure continuation of vital services provided through programs within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means.
DETAILS FOR SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN COMMENTS:
Any person or organization wishing to submit a written statement for the printed record of the hearing should submit six (6) single-spaced copies of their statement, along with an IBM compatible 3.5-inch diskette in WordPerfect 5.1 format, with their name, address, and hearing date noted on a label, by the close of business, on Wednesday, March 10, 1999, to A.L. Singleton, Chief of Staff, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, 1102 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. If those filing written statements wish to have their statements distributed to the press and interested public at the hearing, they may deliver 200 additional copies for this purpose to the Committee office, room 1102 Longworth House Office Building, by close of business the day before the hearing.
FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS:
Each statement presented for printing to the Committee by a witness, any written statement or exhibit submitted for the printed record or any written comments in response to a request for written comments must conform to the guidelines listed below. Any statement or exhibit not in compliance with these guidelines will not be printed, but will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.
1. All statements and any accompanying exhibits for printing must be submitted on an IBM compatible 3.5-inch diskette in WordPerfect 5.1 format, typed in single space and may not exceed a total of 10 pages including attachments. Witnesses are advised that the Committee will rely on electronic submissions for printing the official hearing record.
2. Copies of whole documents submitted as exhibit material will not be accepted for printing. Instead, exhibit material should be referenced and quoted or paraphrased. All exhibit material not meeting these specifications will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.
3. A witness appearing at a public hearing, or submitting a statement for the record of a public hearing, or submitting written comments in response to a published request for comments by the Committee, must include on his statement or submission a list of all clients, persons, or organizations on whose behalf the witness appears.
4. A supplemental sheet must accompany each statement listing the name, company, address, telephone and fax numbers where the witness or the designated representative may be reached. This supplemental sheet will not be included in the printed record.
The above restrictions and limitations apply only to material being submitted for printing. Statements and exhibits or supplementary material submitted solely for distribution to the Members, the press, and the public during the course of a public hearing may be submitted in other forms.
The
Committee seeks to make its facilities accessible to persons with
disabilities. If you are in need of special accommodations, please
call 202-225-1721 or 202-226-3411 TTD/TTY in advance of the event
(four business days notice is requested). Questions with regard to
special accommodation needs in general (including availability of
Committee materials in alternative formats) may be directed to the
Committee as noted above.