“Competent Authority,” as used throughout this agreement, refers to the Government entity in each country with ultimate responsibility for administering the social security program, including the provisions of the agreement.  This new agreement revises the definition of “Competent Authority” in Article 1.5 of the original agreement.  The revision takes into account the enactment of the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-296) which removed the Social Security Administration (SSA) from the Department of Health and Human Services and established it as an independent agency effective March 31, 1995.  The revision makes no change in the definition of “Competent Authority” as the term applies to Norway.