[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 28, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S11560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE MILLENNIUM DIGITAL COMMERCE ACT

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today the Senate was poised to take action 
on Senator Abraham's Millennium Digital Commerce Act. This important 
measure is aimed at promoting the growth of the ``E-conomy''. Senator 
Abraham has worked tirelessly over the last several months to get this 
bill through the Senate.
  Unfortunately after gaining agreement to bring this bill to the floor 
today, our Democratic colleagues decided to muck up this legislation. 
They insisted on attaching non-germane amendments to this crucial ``e-
commerce'' legislation. Measures that have absolutely nothing to do 
with Senator Abraham's high-technology initiative. Once again, the ``do 
nothing Democrats'' are at work stopping at every point significant 
legislative momentum.
  The Senate could easily pass Senator Abraham's bill. It is simple and 
straight-forward. It promotes jobs, stimulates the economy, and creates 
savings and opportunities for America's consumers. Instead, in an 
effort to create yet another log-jam, the Minority Leader is looking 
for a vehicle to attach every Democratic proposal under the sun.
  The other side of the aisle, which claims to promote electronic 
commerce, is doing everything it can to quash Senator Abraham's 
electronic signatures bill--as well as other important legislation. It 
is a continuing pattern and practice of the Democrats to deny the 
American people any legislative progress. The Democrats claim that they 
want this bill and that they are pro-technology, yet they are doing 
everything they can to kill this bill.
  Mr. President, S. 761 establishes the legal certainty of electronic 
signatures for interstate commercial transactions. It is an interim 
solution needed until states adopt the Uniform Electronic Transactions 
Act (UETA). UETA was recently adopted by the National Conference of 
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Over the next several years, it 
will undergo state-by-state consideration--similar to the process 
followed in implementing the Uniform Commercial Code. The states, high 
technology and other commercial sectors support Senator Abraham's 
common sense legislation because it validates the use of electronic 
authentication technology. A tool that will help the electronic 
marketplace flourish in the 21st Century.
  The Administration, not once but twice, formally noted its support 
for the electronic signatures measure reported out of the Senate 
Commerce Committee. Both the Commerce Department's letter of support 
and the Executive Office of the President's Statement of Administration 
Position were previously entered into the Record. Given the 
overwhelming support for S. 761, I am surprised and bewildered that the 
Administration has been working behind the scenes to weaken this 
measure instead of pushing harder to get the Commerce Committee-
reported bill, which the White House supported--passed.
  Every day, more and more businesses and consumers are conducting 
their important commercial transactions over the Internet. The World 
Wide Web, more than any other communications medium, allows users to 
promptly and efficiently locate vendors, evaluate goods and services, 
compare pricing, and complete purchases. S. 761 is good for business, 
good for consumers, and good for the overall economy.
  I am dismayed and once again disappointed that our Democratic 
colleagues have thrown yet another monkey wrench into the legislative 
process. Let's stop playing games and get the people's business done. 
Let's pass Senator Abraham's electronic signatures bill on its merits--
without tacking on non-germane amendments that they know will kill the 
bill.
  If my colleagues from the other side of the aisle are really for the 
New Economy, they will stop these shenanigans and let us pass a clean 
Millennium Digital Commerce Act.

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