3786 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS March 4, 1999 needy during the holidays. I commend the fac- ing the Hungarian Diet to put the revolutionary THE INTRODUCTION OF THE Y2K ulty of the school as well as all the students, reforms into effect. Thus, ’s future STATE AND LOCAL GOVERN- parents, and individuals who contributed to was forever influenced as the result of a MENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS their benefit. Their selfless dedication has pro- peaceful, lawful revolution. ACT vided warmth, comfort, and happiness to fami- lies in Colorado. That the school produced so The Hungarian Diet immediately began to HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD work nonstop to pass new laws. By April the much for the Salvation Army for the benefit of OF GUAM the needy is testament to the true meaning of Diet had passed 31 progressive measures, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the spirit of Christmas and Hanukkah. Let us which essentially amounted to a new constitu- Thursday, March 4, 1999 remember, as these good people have, that tion. These ‘‘April laws’’ attempted to provide Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, our con- the holiday season is one of giving, one of joy, for the needs of a nation moving towards temporary world is ever more dependent upon and one of hope. Let the children’s example modernization. during the holidays be a beacon to us all computers to assist with and manage our daily Unfortunately, Hungarians did not have long throughout the year. lives. From the ATM Machine to the desktop to experience the effects of the new laws, be- PC, to the pacemaker to air traffic control sys- f cause factions in the Austrian government tems—computers and their myriad of pro- PERSONAL EXPLANATION were intent on squashing any semblance of grams all work in concert to make our lives Hungarian independence. On September 10, better and more productive. On my home is- HON. LOIS CAPPS Baron Lelacic, with encouragement from the land of Guam, computers have improved mass communication with the mainland and OF CALIFORNIA Habsburgs, let 40,000 Croatian troops across overseas areas in all facets of life—law, busi- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the Hungarian frontier. Hungary, led by ness, government, commerce, military, trade, Thursday, March 4, 1999 Kossuth, was in the process of building up its transportation and perhaps most important: army, and initially lost several battles to the in- Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, due to a family staying in touch with our families. Because our illness, I was unable to attend votes this week. vaders. Finally, General Arthur-Gorgey, who lives are so intertwined with computers, the Had I been here I would have made the fol- was to become one of Hungary’s greatest Year 2000 or Y2K problem may pose quite a lowing votes: Roll Call No. 29—‘‘aye,’’ Roll generals, was given control of the Hungarian crippling problem to many communities. The Call No. 30—‘‘aye,’’ Roll Call No. 31—‘‘aye,’’ army. By April 1849 Gorgey’s military brilliance Y2K problem was created by a programming Roll Call No. 32—‘‘aye,’’ and Roll Call No. and the tremendous bravery of the elite Hun- oversight. As a result of an archaic, two-digit 33—‘‘aye.’’ garian Honved troops had driven all of the in- dating system in computer software and hard- ware, vital systems may be knocked off-line f vaders out of Hungary, and Hungary had offi- on January 1, 2000 creating cyber-havoc for THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE cially declared its independence from Austria. many. This concern has led the General Ac- HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION The Habsburg’s were humiliated and forced counting Office to elect the Y2K problem to to call on Russian Czar Nicholas I for assist- the top of the ‘‘High Risk’’ list for every federal HON. JOHN D. DINGELL ance in bringing the now independent Hungary agency. back under Austrian control. As a result, Hun- There exists a Congressional Research OF MICHIGAN Service (CRS) report, requested at the behest gary’s independence was short-lived because IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of Senator DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN over in June, 1849, a joint Austrian-Russian offen- Thursday, March 4, 1999 three years ago, detailing the implication of sive overwhelmed the valiant Hungarian de- the Y2K problem. The report states, among Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, 1848 was a fenders. On August 13, Gorgeys’ forces laid other things, that the Year 2000 problem is a year of great tumult across the continent of down their arms before the Russians at serious problem and the cost of rectifying it Europe. Men, women, and children rebelled Vilagos. Kossuth was forced to flee his be- will indeed be rather high. against the shackles of repressive aristoc- loved homeland and would live the rest of his The Federal Government has become rath- racies to demand a greater voice and greater er proficient in getting its agencies and depart- freedoms. From these heroic uprisings, the life traveling the world to gain support for Hun- gary’s cause. In a speech made prior to his ments to comply with the inevitable re-pro- seeds of change were permanently planted in gramming that is required to fixing this bug. departure, Kossuth said, ‘‘My principle were Europe. Today, I rise to join Hungarian-Ameri- But not without some effort. The Senate and cans and the people of Hungary in commemo- those of George Washington. I love you, Eu- the House of Representatives have truly taken rating the anniversary of start of one of these rope’s most loyal nation.’’ the lead on this pressing issue. Under the noble uprisings, the 1848 Hungarian revolu- It is fitting that within this building—this gentle prodding of Senators MOYNIHAN, BEN- tion. house of democracy—sits a statue of Louis NETT, and DODD as well as Congressman On March 3, 1848—as revolution gripped Kossuth. This is only right and appropriate. STEVE HORN, the President appointed a Y2K much of Europe—a brave Hungarian patriot, Council to get the government focused on this Louis Kossuth, stood up against the ruling Although, the Hungarian revolution of 1848 issue. They have done well enough that many Austrian Hapsburg empire. In his ‘‘inaugural did not end in prolonged independence for citizens do not fear the year’s end despite the address of the revolution’’, Kossuth enumer- Hungary, it did result in at least one very rhetoric of many doomsayers. That said, to ated 12 sweeping reforms that reflected some noble achievement. The revolution prevented paraphrase Robert Frost, we have many miles of the most progressive ideas of the age, such the Austrian government from revoking the to go before we sleep. as a reduction of feudal rights and the emanci- emancipation of the peasants and all other Up until today, states, territories and local pation of the peasant. This declaration struck unfree persons in the Habsburg’s empire. For authorities have been left to their own devices an immediate chord with the Hungarian peo- this historic accomplishment and for striving in terms of fixing the Year 2000 problem. ple. The reforms immediately spurred the Aus- While most of the Federal Government’s crit- towards the ideal of the American Revolution, trian people to demand similar rights, and on ical services may be Y2K compliant by Janu- March 13, a full-fledged revolution broke out in Hungarian and Americans of Hungarian de- ary 1, 2000, many of the states and local juris- Vienna. cent should always be proud. I join with the dictions will not be. This includes the terri- On March 15, while Kossuth was in Vienna strong Hungarian-American population in the tories. In Guam, for example, the local Office presenting his 12 points to the Habsburg mon- downriver communities to celebrate the Hun- of the Public Auditor released a study outlining archy, students in Buda-Pest armed only with garian revolution of 1848, truly an important the territorial Y2K problem. While some of Kossuth’s reforms seized control in what has turning point in the history of the Hungarian GovGuam’s departments are Y2K compliant come to be known as the bloodless revolution. nation. ahead of schedule many are not. Guam’s De- The following day the Hungarian delegation, partment of Public Works and the Department led by Kossuth, submitted Hungary’s demands of Public Health and Social Services—both before Emperor-King Ferdinand. The Austrian lifeblood agencies for both Guam’s public in- monarch quickly agreed to the points, prompt- frastructure and poor and handicapped—do

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