[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 81 (Friday, June 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO STATE SENATOR ROBERT LAMUTT'S WORK ON E-SIGNATURE 
                              LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB BARR

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 23, 2000

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to honor a 
leader from the Seventh District of Georgia State Senator Robert 
Lamutt. Senator Lamutt is a true leader in providing state regulations 
on electronic commerce, commonly known as ``e-commerce.''
  The Internet has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception. 
It has become a tool with which millions daily access more information 
than in any single library, communicate with friends, or purchase goods 
from retailers located all over the world. As e-commerce continues to 
boom, it has become imperative to enact federal and state legislation 
that will enable, enhance, and protect future Internet users.
  The greatest barrier to regulating electronic transactions has been 
the lack of consistent rules governing the use of electronic signatures 
(``e-signatures''). For the past two years, the National Conference of 
Commissioners on Uniform State Law, an organization comprised of e-
commerce experts, has been working to develop a uniform system for the 
use of e-signatures for all 50 states. Their product, the Uniform 
Electronic Transaction Act, is in the final stages of review. When the 
UETA is completed, it will be used by state legislatures to enact the 
legislation and establish the uniformity necessary for the interstate 
use of e-signatures.
  As a Georgian, I am proud these new standards were in part crafted 
from Georgia Senate Bill 62, signed into law by our Governor on April 
19, 2000. This legislation grants ``e-transactions'' the legitimacy of 
traditional, paper-based transactions. Senator Robert Lamutt, R-
Marietta, was the bill's primary sponsor. Senator Lamutt's insight and 
understanding helped define one of the more difficult aspects of the 
bill. Instead of focusing on limiting the scope of competitive 
solutions, the Georgia bill looked at defining e-signatures from a 
minimalist perspective. The language clarifies that just because 
something is done electronically, it is still legally binding. It was 
this ``real'' solution to a complex issue that enabled the UETA 
drafting committee to move toward its final draft.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Georgia Senator Lamutt's pioneering 
work on this issue. He is a tremendous asset to Marietta, the State of 
Georgia and indeed, the nation. I am most proud of his approach in 
creating greater uniformity in electronic transactions, electronic 
records and electronic signatures. This insight will inevitably lead to 
greater, legally binding e-commerce, and will help us in the Congress 
as we endeavor to develop federal legislation regarding this important 
aspect of interstate commerce, and as H.R. 1714, the e-signature bill 
passed by the House on June 14, 2000, moves forward.

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