-Caveat Lector- >From CNN, http://www.cnnfn.com/1999/09/10/technology/y2k_report/ - Military gets D for Y2K House report blames hiring by private sector for slowing U.S. efforts to crawl September 10, 1999: 5:58 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (CNNfn) - Important parts of the federal government -- including the departments of Defense, Treasury, Justice, Agriculture and Health and Human Services -- are not prepared for the Y2K computer bug, according to a congressional report card released Friday. Defense scored the lowest, two "D's," according the to the ranking compiled by two House subcommittees. HHS, which overseas Medicare, child welfare, organ transplants, and other programs, received a "C" and an "F." USDA, which ensures food safety and administers food stamps, got a "C-minus" and a "D." And Treasury, the department that sends out billions in government checks every day, also got a "C-minus" and a "D." Overall, the 24 largest executive branch agencies scored a "B-minus." Scores were based on two types of computer systems, one that keeps the agencies themselves up and running, the other that impacts the public -- by cutting benefit checks, monitoring air traffic and the like. What's worse, says Rep. Stephen Horn (D-Calif.), who issued the report, with only 112 days left until Jan. 1, 2000, the progress towards solving the problem "has slowed to a snail's pace." In the last three months, Y2K compliance has increased by a scant 1 percent increase across the board, he said. Horn blamed the slowdown on state governments and the private sector for hiring away many of the federal government's Y2K experts in the last year. Not that all the news was bad. Horn, at a news conference, praised the Social Security Administration (two A's), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (one A), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (despite getting one D) for a job well done. And Rep. Jim Turner (D-Texas) who said Thursday he would not fly on or around Jan. 1 because of suspected Y2K problems at the FAA, reversed course and said he might. The Defense Department, which plans to spend about $4 billion chasing Y2K gremlins from its computers, was not happy at its low marks. "DOD doesn't see Y2K readiness as a graded exercise, we see it as pass or fail," a spokeswoman said tersely. "We believe we will be passing at that time of the year and will be able to carry out our national security responsibilities." She said Defense has over a third of all the relevant government computers under its watch (2,414 at last count) and that many of them are out of the country -- deployed to the Persian Gulf, Kosovo and other military hot spots. She said all those systems will be rotated back to the United States and be Y2K compliant by the end of the year. Over 90 percent of the department's computers already are, she said. Horn, despite giving the department the low marks, seemed to agree. "On the war-making side, they're OK on it," he said. "But they have a lot of other systems." Upon hearing of the Defense objections to the low marks, an aide to Horn quoted the congressman as believing "the department has done a terrific job this year on fixing Y2K." Than why the report card and the low marks? "To keep them working, urge them, prod them," the aide said. "A degree of this is subjective." -- Dan S DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
