I feel this most recent report from the House Subcommittee is far more revealing than Jim Lord's Navy Documents. Maybe it's because it's the weekend, but I can hardly believe the apathy regarding this report. Yet when the Lord documents were released with all of their hype, this place was abuzz for several days. This report is absolutely shocking considering how much time is left before the rollover. I think our resident Pollies would have a tough time spinning this!

-- Kitty (...@...), September 11, 1999

Answers

Kitty: Do you like to mudwrestle?

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), September 11, 1999.

I just read the report a little while ago on another board. There's almost nothing to say about it, I believe the results were to be expected...at this point who'd really think the grades would have been anything other. Off to Costco to do some more Hoarding

-- Tiara (sorceress5@hotmail.com), September 11, 1999.

The govt. systems are important, but I don't think as important as electric/water/gas... Govt is nothing without electric...and they've clearly told us all problems will be LOCAL.

So when the Navy report offered a limited, but LOCAL, view and being the first of its kind, well yeah, everyone was excited.

Considering we have learned repeatedly that the govt. report is merely a report of the latest fictional report from the individual agencies, our excitement level at reading these stories has been dampened.

-- Shelia (Shelia@active-stream.com), September 11, 1999.

SEPTEMBER 10, 1999 . . . 13:05 EDT

Horn: Fed Y2K efforts lagging in key service programs

BY ORLANDO De BRUCE (orlando_debruce@fcw.com)

http://www.fcw.com/pubs/fcw/1999/0906/web-horn-09-10-99.html

[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

Despite the progress the Clinton administration has made with its Year 2000 efforts, the federal government remains critically behind in ensuring that federal services administered on the state-level will go uninterrupted next year.

During a press conference today on Capitol Hill, Rep. Stephen Horn (R- Calif.), chairman of the House Government Management, Information and Technology Subcommittee, gave the Clinton administration an overall grade of B-minus in his eighth report card, which assesses agencies' Year 2000 efforts. Last quarter, the administration also received a B- minus.

But for the first time in the history of his grading system, Horn graded the Year 2000 readiness of 43 major federal programs that provide services to millions of American citizens, including Medicare, child nutrition, food inspection and retired rail workers' benefits.

"Thirty-six programs remain at risk of failure when the clock ticks past midnight on Dec. 31," Horn said. "In many cases, the federal agency responsible for the program may be compliant, but its business partners -- state and local governments and the private sector -- who assist in delivering the service are not ready."

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 11, 1999.

Y2K CANNOT BE FIXED!

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), September 11, 1999.

GMIT -- Sobcommittee on Government Management, Information, and Technology
Year 2000

http:// www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/index.htm

YEAR 2000 PROGRESS - GRADE CARD CHART
September 10, 1999

PAGE ONE: Statement by Congressman Stephen Horn

http:// www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/990910.htm

[snip]

For more than three years, our subcommittees have prodded agencies in the executive branch of the federal government to prepare their critical computer systems for the Year 2000. Now, only 112 days remain until Jan. 1, 2000  and the job is still not completed. Progress during this quarter, which ended on August 15, is discouraging. The flurry of activity we saw among federal agencies earlier this year has slowed to a snails pace.

"Today, we will present two sets of grades. As we have done on eight previous occasions, the first set of grades rates the 24 largest executive branch agencies on the progress they have made in preparing their mission-critical computer systems for the Year 2000. The second set of grades, which are new, will assess the Year 2000 readiness of the Federal Governments 43 high impact programs.

Mission Critical Systems

"The Social Security Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency say their mission-critical systems and related programs are nearly 100 percent ready to go. I commend these agencies and their managers for a job well done.

"Despite their stellar work, the overall federal government improved its compliance rate by a measly one percent during the last three months. This performance rate is simply not acceptable. Five percent of the governments most critical computer systems are still not upgraded for the Year 2000. Most of these systems are in the Defense Department, which accounts for 37 percent of all mission- critical systems in the executive branch.

"Again this quarter, the Defense Department revised its number of mission-critical systems, this time adding 333 systems to its total count. Defenses numbers are about as consistent as the stock market.

"I hope this fluctuation is not an indication that the department is still inventorying its systems, because time is running out. Within the next 112 days, these laggard agencies must complete the necessary computer fixes, fully test their systems, and have their business continuity and contingency plans in place. Only time will tell whether this goal can be achieved.

"I strongly urge all federal agencies to intensify their Year 2000 efforts, and continue testing and re-testing system changes, and business continuity and contingency plans.

High-impact programs

"When we released our last report card in June, we examined the Year 2000 readiness of the federal governments high impact programs. These programs were designated "high impact" by the presidents Office of Management and Budget after consultations with the departments and agencies.

"At the time, only two programs  Social Security Benefits and the National Weather Service  were Year 2000 ready.

"Agencies now report that seven programs are ready. These programs deal with disease monitoring, the National Crime Information Center, passport applications, veterans benefits and veterans health care.

"Although the number of these Year 2000-ready programs has nearly tripled during the last three months, 36 programs remain at risk of failure when the clock ticks past midnight on December 31. In many cases, the federal agency responsible for the program may be compliant, but its business partners  state and local governments, and the private sector  who assist in delivering the service are not ready.

"The federal government has made significant progress in upgrading its essential computer systems. But it is only one link in the broad and complex chain that provides federal services to the millions of American citizens who rely on them."

PAGE TWO: September 1999 Report Card (PDF Format)

http:// www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/990910gc.PDF

PAGE THREE: September 1999 Score Sheet (PDF Format)

http:// www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/990910sc.pdf

PAGE FOUR: How Grades Were Assigned (PDF Format)

http:// www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/howassigned.pdf

PAGE FIVE: High Impact Federal Programs Year 2000 Readiness (PDF Format)

http://www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/990910HighImpact.PDF

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 11, 1999.

"Govt is nothing without electric...and they've clearly told us all problems will be LOCAL." Who exactly lives in Localburg? Um...could it be any of us here?

-- CD (CDOKeefe@aol.com), September 11, 1999.

I think the reason people aren't paying more attention to the report card is simply because it is a report card. We all know how worthless report cards can be.

Remember back in high school, when you had a 4.0 GPA and were class valedictorian, working hard on your studies, and carefully balancing your time with schoolwork, the football team, the debate team, the cheerleading squad, the chess team, the stamp club, as well as working a 40 hour+ work week, helping take care of your 5 younger siblings, volunteering your sparse spare time to various charities, and not even mention trying to find the time to keep up with the soap operas. It was the same in college, all the way up to the doctorate level. After all of that hard work the only employment you can find is washing dishes at the local Sizzler for a measly $5.50 an hour with minimal benefits.

Meanwhile the guy who sat next to you in History class (when he even bothered to show up) was the class stoner/metalhead. He never did his homework, never took part in any extra-cirruclar activities, never worked a day in his high school career, only maintained a 1.0 GPA, and only selfishly spent his time on himself. Of course he never got accepted to college, in fact he never even applied. And, now 15 years later, this bozo is CEO of some Internet start-up company with a net-worth of over $45 million. He drives a purple BMW, a red Mustang convertible, a Gold Lexus, and 'slums' around in a Blue Affinity, while you on the other hand drive a rusty '76 Ford Pinto that badly needs a tune-up, but you can't even afford the tune-up.

If you were to judge by report cards - YOU should be the successful one and he should be the loser, BUT THAT's NOT THE CASE!

This is why there is not more interest in Sen. Horn's report card.

-- Butt Nugget (nubuttet@Better.Mousetrap), September 11, 1999.

So the government has "slacked off" since the beginning of the year...looks like individual gov't workers bought Kosky's line.

I am now stating emphatically, if it isn't done, DONE by Turkey Day, it isn't going to get done. 65 Federal days - 26 December goof off days = 31 slacked off days left.

Looks like some are going to expire in next 3 months...so sad.

-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ it's ALL going away in January.com), September 11, 1999.

Isn't there anyplace this info appears in html. I use Web TV to access the net to protect my business data on my computer. And of course, Web TV can't handle PDF formats. Help!!!

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), September 11, 1999.

Correction...typo. 65 - 26 =39. Still going down to the wire.

Talk about unintended consequences...if the Gov't IT types bought Kosky's line...HA HA HA HA!!!

-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), September 11, 1999.

I agree with Jack above: Y2K CANNOT BE FIXED!

Not in the little time left.

-- cody (cody@y2ksurvive.com), September 11, 1999.

Lobo,

When you have the complete internet PDF code of a document, you can send an e-mail to Adobe for an instant, automatic text conversion...

pdf2txt@adobe.com

The Subject line can be anything, but ONLY one pdf code can be in the body of the message... just the code... no message. Within a couple minutes Adobe will send you back a text coverted copy. Youll miss the graphics, but it allows the Adobe Acrobat challenged to see what its all about.

(If for any reason it doesnt convert, try resending or contact the Adobe web-site folks for help).

Try it, one e-mail for each pdf code...

PAGE TWO: September 1999 Report Card (PDF Format)
http://www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/990910gc.PDF

PAGE THREE: September 1999 Score Sheet (PDF Format)
http://www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/990910sc.pdf

PAGE FOUR: How Grades Were Assigned (PDF Format)
http://www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/howassigned.pdf

PAGE FIVE: High Impact Federal Programs Year 2000 Readiness (PDF Format)
http://www.house.gov/reform/gmit/y2k/990910HighImpact.PDF

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 11, 1999.

Kitty,

I to found this quite puzzling, IMHO this report is absolutely devastating and yesterday afternoon there was not much comment to be found.

I believe that the fact that it is September of 1999 has eluded us. The gravity of this report cannot be underestimated. It ONLY discusses what the government considers it's "High Impact Programs". How about the IRS, not a peep.

Should be interesting to see if the mass media is capable of digesting this and acurately reporting its potential impact.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), September 11, 1999.

Thanks Diane for that email trick. My computer at home has a head cold I think.. all stuffed up.. doesn't wanna do PDF any more. That's a good trick to keep handy.

As for the report card. I was most interested in

HHS Dept of Health and Human Services F C+ B-C F

Nothing important.. just Medicare and Medicaid among other programs.

And you gotta wonder about the grading curve.

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission C-A A A

NRC gets an A even though some nuke plants don't even EXPECT to be "ready" until Dec. 15th and 16th. And then there's Social Security.. all A's.. but they had that little oopsie last week.

So if those are the "A" crowd.. how good do you feel about the reassurances from this group?

DOD Department of Defense D-C-C-D D

Treasury Department of Treasury C B-C C-D (sends out those SS checks, right?)

DOE Department of Energy F B C+ B C

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency B B+ A A D (now there's a choice one... went from an A to a D.. oopsie).

DOT Department of Transportation D F C B- F (not good... saw the rerun of the Congressional hearing on C-Span... not good)

Agriculture Department of Agriculture C C C+ C- D

Labor Department of Labor C B A A F

Time for ANOTHER trip to Costco. Wish I had $40 million to prepare for the 2 - 3 day storm in my neck of the woods.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), September 11, 1999.

Kitty and Ray,I agree. I have noticed that there is little in depth dicussion about some of the reports that require reading. I suspect many have looked at the grades and not gone further. The readiness of many programs is in serious doubt and failure is a very real possibility in many of these.

It is not enough to read the findings but it is also necessary for me to attempt to envision the results of the failure of these critical functions.

No checks for welfare-government employees- retirees etc. etc. This does not bode well for the stability of society.

Data zapping all over the place fed-state-local and some of it will be corrupt. It will become harder and harder to fix the systems.

Look at the program partners involved in these high impact areas. I have been looking for facts for a long time and these are FACTS. The program partners have problems but it does not say which ones. It does not matter as they must ALL work.

Look at this report. Read it all. This is just what we are being told and we all know that it is likely that things are much worse rather than much better. This stuff comes with a positive spin and Horn said so himself.

This is reality and I must accept both it and what I think the resultant consequences will be. It is not good.

And this is only the government. There is still the rest of the world. How do you think they are stacking up?

Facts speak very clearly, I had better learn to listen.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), September 11, 1999.

Ray, I hear geek talk too and a consultant who was working on IRS remediation said that it will not get done.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), September 11, 1999.

People do rate these things. Where does it get us, I say nowhere. Meet you in 2000.

-- ET (bnevillle@zebra.net), September 11, 1999.

Mike,

I agree with you. Allowing the information IN to our minds with all it's concurrent consequences is extrordinarily difficult yet vitally important for our own contingency planning.

-- Leslie (***@***.net), September 11, 1999.

Horn mentioned that only the government was ONLY 1% FURTHER AHEAD THAN THE LAST QUARTER. YES, 1%!!!!!!!!!!

There's only one conclusion........

The U.S. Government won't be functional.

Has that REALLY sunk in with any of you?

I've been a GI for a year and a half and after watching the Horn press conference yesterday, the enormity of what we are facing just slapped me hard.

Y2K has always been an 8+ to me, but a 10 looks like the scenario now. People that think in the 2-6 range how do you square this with this latest report?????

Costco tomorrow morning............

-- PJC (paulchri@msn.com), September 11, 1999.

I pulled this from the introduction to Horn's report the other day, I thought it was interesting, for anyone who missed it:

......."Despite their stellar work, the overall federal government improved its compliance rate by a measly one percent during the last three months. This performance rate is simply not acceptable. Five percent of the governments most critical computer systems are still not upgraded for the Year 2000. Most of these systems are in the Defense Department, which accounts for 37 percent of all mission-critical systems in the executive branch.

"Again this quarter, the Defense Department revised its number of mission-critical systems, this time adding 333 systems to its total count. Defenses numbers are about as consistent as the stock market.

"I hope this fluctuation is not an indication that the department is still inventorying its systems, because time is running out. Within the next 112 days, these laggard agencies must complete the necessary computer fixes, fully test their systems, and have their business continuity and contingency plans in place. Only time will tell whether this goal can be achieved.

"I strongly urge all federal agencies to intensify their Year 2000 efforts, and continue testing and re-testing system changes, and business continuity and contingency plans.

(SNIP)

BTW, I was also suprised that this didn't get much attention around here.

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), September 12, 1999.

Well, unfortunately this important news hit when everyone was busy trying to figure out the latest saga with Mr. Decker, on threads like "Contempt and Retirement" and "TO MR. DECKER: With Respect". For those who have been busy here, the following is a capsule summary of what transpired in the last episode, as played out across the dual threads:

Mr. Decker's moronic posts have gotten even more so, with irrational "(laughter)" and other strange insertions. Everyone notices, except Flint, whose nicotine addiction has driven him to crabby dispair. Stan Faryna finally reveals that Mr. Decker has led a secret life, and will no longer be an enabler to his self-destructive degradation. Hardliner and "a" suspect drug abuse, probably heroin related. Stan tries to help Flint discover his manly worth through honest self-discovery. The elusive "Red", Mr. Decker's other self, may be the key to his recovery. Stan temporarily arrests both therapies due to his dog duties. KOS may finally score with helen and susan.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), September 12, 1999.

Diane....IT WORKS!! Now I can do my own research instead of waiting until one of the 'bright ones' can post it. Thank you for the help. You and some others like you are why I stick with this forum (even with all the bull). Again, thanks.

Horn's report.....expecting a 10, hoping for a 6. I used to expect a 6 and hoped for a 1.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), September 12, 1999.

KOS... stay tuned... "As the Forum Turns!"

;-D

Actually was thinking that most the media glossed over Horn's report because they were too busy spreading the "good newz" about... 9/9/99's okay so Y2K's okay 2... and the glorious NERC "grid" test. Horn's little report card would be like a splash of ice water.

Can't rain on that parade, ya know.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 12, 1999.

You're welcome Lobo!

Have fun! The net is now your oyster. Or better yet... check out the pdf pearls over at the GAO.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 12, 1999.

I read the report card--it's in my calculations. It wasn't ignored.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), September 12, 1999.

KOS... stay tuned... "As the Forum Turns!"

Diane

Just to funny :o) I think folks like contraversy than information. Guess which is more fun. It is getting a bit late for that now.

BTW I have not heard much about the IRS, and that is after checking out ALOT of documents.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 12, 1999.

Hmmmm...

Read part of the report - no different than I expected. Sadly, it doesn't even get a rise out of me, no desire to print it out - what's the use? Those who believe in personal responsibility have already prepared, those who don't are not going to be convinced by one more document (freely paraphrased from a Gary North quote). I am sick (sniffle, snort) and tired and prepped to the gills. I just want the suspense to be over with. I am really hoping that all I have done ends up as being a nice, cushy insurance policy against some impacts of unemployment, catastrophic illness, etc. Wake me when it over. (Where's the darned NyQuil?!) :)

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), September 12, 1999.

Does anyone still have the information about what Horn's grades actually mean? I recall that the grades were assigned according to the date when 100% of mission critical systems were projected to be completed; ie: A = 100% mission criticals will be completed by December 31, 1999.

-- RUOK (RUOK@yesiam.com), September 12, 1999.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." Albert Einstein 1879-1955

-- quoter (quoter@quoterrr.com), September 12, 1999.

Look...lets get to something reasonable here. Say that some of these systems can be completed 1st Quarter '00. I'll bet that DOG GONE's oil company can wrap up the remaining 35 mission critical systems by then.

As to the Gubmint, who needs stinkin' Medicare or Medicaid anyway!

-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), September 12, 1999.