Byron Dorgan: “I feel very comforted knowing that the Senator from Utah is a cochair of the task force along with Senator Dodd. I…”

“I feel very comforted knowing that the Senator from Utah is a cochair of the task force along with Senator Dodd. I compliment the majority leader, Senator Lott, and Senator Daschle for putting together a commission of the type they have established. I know, serving as ranking member of the legislative branch appropriations subcommittee of which Senator Bennett is chairman, that he has, in every circumstance, at every hearing, gone through in some detail this Y2K problem. He knows it well and is very concerned about it. As he properly indicates here in the Senate, this doesn't just deal with Federal agencies. In fact, that is only a very small fraction of what can be affected, unless this problem is dealt with as a nationwide priority. But I wanted to just say, as I have said before on the floor, I think Senator Bennett is one of the finest people serving in this body. He has devoted a lot of attention to this issue. If this is not handled properly all across this country in both the public and private sector, this could have catastrophic consequences. If handled properly, we probably won't even know that this situation came and went. But I just want to tell you that I feel comforted by his leadership. I thank him very much for all of the attention and time he has devoted to this. He and Senator Dodd will spend a substantial amount of time between now and the year 2000 on this very significant issue.”