Rep. to focus on Y2K integration, contingency plans

Rep. Stephen Horn (R-Calif.), the House's chief watchdog for the Year 2000 in the federal government, plans to begin grading agencies' success in integrating entire computer systems and developing contingency plans in case federal computer systems fail next year.

Horn plans to release tomorrow his eighth report card on the government's efforts to ensure that federal computer systems will function in the Year 2000. In the report card, Horn, chairman of the House Government Management, Information and Technology Subcommittee, plans to briefly evaluate agencies' contingency plans.

Horn will discuss the report during a press conference that will coincide with the day—June 15—that the Office of Management and Budget requires agencies to submit their Year 2000 contingency plans.

Horn said in a statement that many of the government's largest departments and independent agencies have completed the initial phase of upgrading and replacing their mission-critical computer systems.

"The next challenge is to ensure that the government programs protecting the health and well-being of millions of Americans are completely ready for the irrevocable deadline of Jan. 1, 2000,'' Horn said.