Clinton unveils Y2K strategy

Even as his administration is criticized on Capitol Hill for failing to deal expeditiously with the year 2000 computer problem, President Clinton today launched several new initiatives to increase national and global awareness of the so-called Y2K problem and to facilitate public and private sector attempts to address it.

The government's progress in addressing the Y2K problem has been subject to unyielding scrutiny and criticism from House Government Reform Government Management Subcommittee Chairman Stephen Horn, R-Calif. But in a speech today at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, Clinton said he had set a goal of "full government compliance" by March 1999. "We have made progress, especially at the Social Security Administration," which "has more than 90 percent" of its critical systems ready, Clinton said.

Clinton also cited the EPA, the Veterans' Affairs Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as "well on their way" to meeting their goals, but acknowledged that "not every agency is as far along as it should be."

Clinton also announced that he would submit to Congress "Year 2000 Good Samaritan" legislation. The bill is designed to promote private sector exchange of year 2000-related information by protecting from liability claims, based on the sharing of the information, those who impart knowledge about Y2K solutions--or who state whether a product is Y2K compliant.

The legislation does not, however, address liability that may separately arise from Y2K systems or device failures, nor is it intended to alter existing contractual rights, the White House said.

Also as part of today's initiative, Clinton said the Labor Department has established a Y2K information technology Web site to hook up information technology workers with potential employers. The United States also will contribute $12 million to assist the World Bank's plan to raise awareness of the problem in developing countries.

Later this month, the president's Council on Year 2000 Conversion will commence its "National Campaign for Year 2000 Solutions" to stir the private and public sectors to action on the millennium bug.