CLINTON CALLS Y2K PROBLEM A SERIOUS GLOBAL CHALLENGE
USIA
19 October 1998
TEXT: CLINTON CALLS Y2K PROBLEM A SERIOUS GLOBAL CHALLENGE
(Says new bill is important bipartisan effort) (890)
Washington -- President Clinton says he has signed important
bipartisan legislation that will help provide businesses, governments
and other organizations with informational tools to overcome the Year
2000 (Y2K) computer problem.
In a statement released October 19, Clinton said the limited liability
protections provided by the legislation, called the "Year 2000
Information and Readiness Disclosure Act," will encourage greater
information sharing by businesses and organizations about both their
experiences and solutions in dealing with the Y2K problem.
Clinton said this "will significantly enhance public and private
sector efforts to prepare the nation's computer systems for the new
millennium."
Clinton also emphasized the urgent need to address the Y2K problem,
which he said "may cause computers and embedded systems that run
America's critical infra-structure to malfunction or even shut down.
"With little over a year until January 1, 2000, this is a serious
global challenge that businesses and governments around the world must
address," he added.
Following is the text of Clinton's statement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
October 19, 1998
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today I am pleased to sign into law S. 2392, the "Year 2000
Information and Readiness Disclosure Act."
As our Nation prepares for the year 2000 (Y2K), we face an urgent need
to address the Y2K problem, which may cause computers and embedded
systems that run America's critical infra-structure to malfunction or
even shut down. With little over a year until January 1, 2000, this is
a serious global challenge that businesses and governments around the
world must address.
Today, my Council on Year 2000 Conversion is launching "National Y2K
Action Week," to urge small- and medium-sized businesses to take the
necessary steps to ensure that the technologies they and their
business partners depend upon are ready for the year 2000. Over the
next 5 days, the Small Business Administration, the Department of
Commerce, and several other Federal agencies will host Y2K educational
events at their field offices across the Nation. As part of this week,
we are also urging State, local, tribal governments, and community
organizations to address this critical problem. More than 160 national
organizations representing industries, professions, government, and
the nonprofit sector have joined the Council in promoting Y2K action
during this week.
This legislation will help provide businesses, governments, and other
organizations with the necessary informational tools to overcome the
Y2K computer problem. This Act, which builds upon a proposal my
Administration submitted to the Congress in July, is an important
bipartisan accomplishment. I particularly want to thank those in the
Congress whose hard work and support of this legislation made its
passage possible. Representatives Horn, Kucinich, Morella, Barcia,
Leach, LaFalce, Hyde, Conyers, Dreier, and Eschoo and Senators
Bennett, Dodd, Hatch, Leahy, and Kyl were integral to getting this
work done and done quickly.
Many organizations have been reluctant to share valuable information
about their experiences in dealing with the Y2K problem or the status
of their Y2K efforts for fear of lawsuits. The Act's limited liability
protections will promote and encourage greater information sharing
about both experiences and solutions, which will significantly enhance
public and private sector efforts to prepare the Nation's computer
systems for the new millennium. However, the bill will not affect
liability that may arise from Y2K failures of systems or devices.
While I understand that companies have a wide range of concerns
related to the Y2K transition and potential litigation, we must also
protect the rights of consumers. Therefore, this legislation is
focused exclusively on exposure related to information exchange and
would not cover statements to individual consumers in marketing a
product normally used for personal use.
Firms within an industry confront similar challenges as they work to
ensure that their computer systems are Y2K compliant. Although the
Department of Justice has already indicated that competitors in an
industry who merely share information on Y2K solutions would not be in
violation of the antitrust laws, this Act creates a specific exemption
from the antitrust laws for these activities. The limited antitrust
exemption created by S. 2392 will make it easier for firms to
cooperate with one another to solve the Y2K problem while continuing
to protect consumers from industry agreements to boycott, allocate a
market, or fix prices or output.
Information sharing will be important not only to those who have
already made progress addressing the Y2K problem, but also to the many
small business and State, local, and tribal governments that are just
beginning their Y2K work. I urge trade associations and umbrella
organizations to collect such information from their members and
provide it to others through web sites and other means devoted to
discussing Y2K experiences and solutions. My Council on Year 2000
Conversion looks forward to working with Federal agencies, other
levels of government, and consumer and industry groups in expanding
the web site, www.y2k.gov, that already supports activities related to
our Nation's efforts to address issues related to the Y2K transition.
The Y2K problem is an enormous challenge, and we must meet it.
Enactment of this legislation is a significant achievement toward
allowing all of us to take a successful step into the new millennium.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 19, 1998.
(end text)