[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 26, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7116-H7120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SECURING AND ENABLING COMMERCE USING REMOTE AND ELECTRONIC NOTARIZATION
ACT OF 2022
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3962) to authorize notaries public to perform, and to
establish minimum standards for, electronic notarizations and remote
notarizations that occur in or affect interstate commerce, to require
any Federal court to recognize notarizations performed by a notarial
officer of any State, to require any State to recognize notarizations
performed by a notarial officer of any other State when the
notarization was performed under or relates to a public Act, record, or
judicial proceeding of the notarial officer's State or when the
notarization occurs in or affects interstate commerce, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3962
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Securing and Enabling
Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of
2022'' or the ``SECURE Notarization Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Communication technology.--The term ``communication
technology'', with respect to a notarization, means an
electronic device or process that allows the notary public
performing the notarization, a remotely located individual,
and (if applicable) a credible witness to communicate with
each other simultaneously by sight and sound during the
notarization.
(2) Electronic; electronic record; electronic signature;
information; person; record.--The terms ``electronic'',
``electronic record'', ``electronic signature'',
``information'', ``person'', and ``record'' have the meanings
given those terms in section 106 of the Electronic
[[Page H7117]]
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C.
7006).
(3) Law.--The term ``law'' includes any statute,
regulation, rule, or rule of law.
(4) Notarial officer.--The term ``notarial officer''
means--
(A) a notary public; or
(B) any other individual authorized to perform a
notarization under the laws of a State without a commission
or appointment as a notary public.
(5) Notarial officer's state; notary public's state.--The
term ``notarial officer's State'' or ``notary public's
State'' means the State in which a notarial officer, or a
notary public, as applicable, is authorized to perform a
notarization.
(6) Notarization.--The term ``notarization''--
(A) means any act that a notarial officer may perform
under--
(i) Federal law, including this Act; or
(ii) the laws of the notarial officer's State; and
(B) includes any act described in subparagraph (A) and
performed by a notarial officer--
(i) with respect to--
(I) a tangible record; or
(II) an electronic record; and
(ii) for--
(I) an individual in the physical presence of the notarial
officer; or
(II) a remotely located individual.
(7) Notary public.--The term ``notary public'' means an
individual commissioned or appointed as a notary public to
perform a notarization under the laws of a State.
(8) Personal knowledge.--The term ``personal knowledge'',
with respect to the identity of an individual, means
knowledge of the identity of the individual through dealings
sufficient to provide reasonable certainty that the
individual has the identity claimed.
(9) Remotely located individual.--The term ``remotely
located individual'', with respect to a notarization, means
an individual who is not in the physical presence of the
notarial officer performing the notarization.
(10) Requirement.--The term ``requirement'' includes a
duty, a standard of care, and a prohibition.
(11) Signature.--The term ``signature'' means--
(A) an electronic signature; or
(B) a tangible symbol executed or adopted by a person and
evidencing the present intent to authenticate or adopt a
record.
(12) Simultaneously.--The term ``simultaneously'', with
respect to a communication between parties--
(A) means that each party communicates substantially
simultaneously and without unreasonable interruption or
disconnection; and
(B) includes any reasonably short delay that is inherent
in, or common with respect to, the method used for the
communication.
(13) State.--The term ``State''--
(A) means--
(i) any State of the United States;
(ii) the District of Columbia;
(iii) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(iv) any territory or possession of the United States; and
(v) any federally recognized Indian Tribe; and
(B) includes any executive, legislative, or judicial
agency, court, department, board, office, clerk, recorder,
register, registrar, commission, authority, institution,
instrumentality, county, municipality, or other political
subdivision of an entity described in any of clauses (i)
through (v) of subparagraph (A).
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION TO PERFORM AND MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR
ELECTRONIC NOTARIZATION.
(a) Authorization.--Unless prohibited under section 10, and
subject to subsection (b), a notary public may perform a
notarization that occurs in or affects interstate commerce
with respect to an electronic record.
(b) Requirements of Electronic Notarization.--If a notary
public performs a notarization under subsection (a), the
following requirements shall apply with respect to the
notarization:
(1) The electronic signature of the notary public, and all
other information required to be included under other
applicable law, shall be attached to or logically associated
with the electronic record.
(2) The electronic signature and other information
described in paragraph (1) shall be bound to the electronic
record in a manner that renders any subsequent change or
modification to the electronic record evident.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION TO PERFORM AND MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR
REMOTE NOTARIZATION.
(a) Authorization.--Unless prohibited under section 10, and
subject to subsection (b), a notary public may perform a
notarization that occurs in or affects interstate commerce
for a remotely located individual.
(b) Requirements of Remote Notarization.--If a notary
public performs a notarization under subsection (a), the
following requirements shall apply with respect to the
notarization:
(1) The remotely located individual shall appear personally
before the notary public at the time of the notarization by
using communication technology.
(2) The notary public shall--
(A) reasonably identify the remotely located individual--
(i) through personal knowledge of the identity of the
remotely located individual; or
(ii) by obtaining satisfactory evidence of the identity of
the remotely located individual by--
(I) using not fewer than 2 distinct types of processes or
services through which a third person provides a means to
verify the identity of the remotely located individual
through a review of public or private data sources; or
(II) oath or affirmation of a credible witness who--
(aa)(AA) is in the physical presence of the notary public
or the remotely located individual; or
(BB) appears personally before the notary public and the
remotely located individual by using communication
technology;
(bb) has personal knowledge of the identity of the remotely
located individual; and
(cc) has been identified by the notary public in the same
manner as specified for identification of a remotely located
individual under clause (i) or subclause (I) of this clause;
(B) either directly or through an agent--
(i) create an audio and visual recording of the performance
of the notarization; and
(ii) notwithstanding any resignation from, or revocation,
suspension, or termination of, the notary public's commission
or appointment, retain the recording created under clause (i)
as a notarial record--
(I) for a period of not less than--
(aa) if an applicable law of the notary public's State
specifies a period of retention, the greater of--
(AA) that specified period; or
(BB) 5 years after the date on which the recording is
created; or
(bb) if no applicable law of the notary public's State
specifies a period of retention, 10 years after the date on
which the recording is created; and
(II) if any applicable law of the notary public's State
governs the content, manner or place of retention, security,
use, effect, or disclosure of the recording or any
information contained in the recording, in accordance with
that law; and
(C) if the notarization is performed with respect to a
tangible or electronic record, take reasonable steps to
confirm that the record before the notary public is the same
record with respect to which the remotely located individual
made a statement or on which the individual executed a
signature.
(3) If a guardian, conservator, executor, personal
representative, administrator, or similar fiduciary or
successor is appointed for or on behalf of a notary public or
a deceased notary public under applicable law, that person
shall retain the recording under paragraph (2)(B)(ii),
unless--
(A) another person is obligated to retain the recording
under applicable law of the notary public's State; or
(B)(i) under applicable law of the notary public's State,
that person may transmit the recording to an office, archive,
or repository approved or designated by the State; and
(ii) that person transmits the recording to the office,
archive, or repository described in clause (i) in accordance
with applicable law of the notary public's State.
(4) If the remotely located individual is physically
located outside the geographic boundaries of a State, or is
otherwise physically located in a location that is not
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, at the time
of the notarization--
(A) the record shall--
(i) be intended for filing with, or relate to a matter
before, a court, governmental entity, public official, or
other entity that is subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States; or
(ii) involve property located in the territorial
jurisdiction of the United States or a transaction
substantially connected to the United States; and
(B) the act of making the statement or signing the record
may not be prohibited by a law of the jurisdiction in which
the individual is physically located.
(c) Personal Appearance Satisfied.--If a State or Federal
law requires an individual to appear personally before or be
in the physical presence of a notary public at the time of a
notarization, that requirement shall be considered to be
satisfied if--
(1) the individual--
(A) is a remotely located individual; and
(B) appears personally before the notary public at the time
of the notarization by using communication technology; and
(2)(A) the notarization was performed under or relates to a
public act, record, or judicial proceeding of the notary
public's State; or
(B) the notarization occurs in or affects interstate
commerce.
SEC. 5. RECOGNITION OF NOTARIZATIONS IN FEDERAL COURT.
(a) Recognition of Validity.--Each court of the United
States shall recognize as valid under the State or Federal
law applicable in a judicial proceeding before the court any
notarization performed by a notarial officer of any State if
the notarization is valid under the laws of the notarial
officer's State or under this Act.
(b) Legal Effect of Recognized Notarization.--A
notarization recognized under subsection (a) shall have the
same effect under the State or Federal law applicable in the
applicable judicial proceeding as if that notarization was
validly performed--
(1)(A) by a notarial officer of the State, the law of which
is applicable in the proceeding; or
(B) under this Act or other Federal law; and
(2) without regard to whether the notarization was
performed--
(A) with respect to--
(i) a tangible record; or
(ii) an electronic record; or
(B) for--
(i) an individual in the physical presence of the notarial
officer; or
(ii) a remotely located individual.
(c) Presumption of Genuineness.--In a determination of the
validity of a notarization for the purposes of subsection
(a), the signature and title of an individual performing the
notarization shall be prima facie evidence in any court of
the United States that the signature of the individual is
genuine and that the individual holds the designated title.
[[Page H7118]]
(d) Conclusive Evidence of Authority.--In a determination
of the validity of a notarization for the purposes of
subsection (a), the signature and title of the following
notarial officers of a State shall conclusively establish the
authority of the officer to perform the notarization:
(1) A notary public of that State.
(2) A judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of a court of that
State.
SEC. 6. RECOGNITION BY STATE OF NOTARIZATIONS PERFORMED UNDER
AUTHORITY OF ANOTHER STATE.
(a) Recognition of Validity.--Each State shall recognize as
valid under the laws of that State any notarization performed
by a notarial officer of any other State if--
(1) the notarization is valid under the laws of the
notarial officer's State or under this Act; and
(2)(A) the notarization was performed under or relates to a
public act, record, or judicial proceeding of the notarial
officer's State; or
(B) the notarization occurs in or affects interstate
commerce.
(b) Legal Effect of Recognized Notarization.--A
notarization recognized under subsection (a) shall have the
same effect under the laws of the recognizing State as if
that notarization was validly performed by a notarial officer
of the recognizing State, without regard to whether the
notarization was performed--
(1) with respect to--
(A) a tangible record; or
(B) an electronic record; or
(2) for--
(A) an individual in the physical presence of the notarial
officer; or
(B) a remotely located individual.
(c) Presumption of Genuineness.--In a determination of the
validity of a notarization for the purposes of subsection
(a), the signature and title of an individual performing a
notarization shall be prima facie evidence in any State court
or judicial proceeding that the signature is genuine and that
the individual holds the designated title.
(d) Conclusive Evidence of Authority.--In a determination
of the validity of a notarization for the purposes of
subsection (a), the signature and title of the following
notarial officers of a State shall conclusively establish the
authority of the officer to perform the notarization:
(1) A notary public of that State.
(2) A judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of a court of that
State.
SEC. 7. ELECTRONIC AND REMOTE NOTARIZATION NOT REQUIRED.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to require a notary
public to perform a notarization--
(1) with respect to an electronic record;
(2) for a remotely located individual; or
(3) using a technology that the notary public has not
selected.
SEC. 8. VALIDITY OF NOTARIZATIONS; RIGHTS OF AGGRIEVED
PERSONS NOT AFFECTED; STATE LAWS ON THE
PRACTICE OF LAW NOT AFFECTED.
(a) Validity Not Affected.--The failure of a notary public
to meet a requirement under section 3 or 4 in the performance
of a notarization, or the failure of a notarization to
conform to a requirement under section 3 or 4, shall not
invalidate or impair the validity or recognition of the
notarization.
(b) Rights of Aggrieved Persons.--The validity and
recognition of a notarization under this Act may not be
construed to prevent an aggrieved person from seeking to
invalidate a record or transaction that is the subject of a
notarization or from seeking other remedies based on State or
Federal law other than this Act for any reason not specified
in this Act, including on the basis--
(1) that a person did not, with present intent to
authenticate or adopt a record, execute a signature on the
record;
(2) that an individual was incompetent, lacked authority or
capacity to authenticate or adopt a record, or did not
knowingly and voluntarily authenticate or adopt a record; or
(3) of fraud, forgery, mistake, misrepresentation,
impersonation, duress, undue influence, or other invalidating
cause.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be
construed to affect a State law governing, authorizing, or
prohibiting the practice of law.
SEC. 9. EXCEPTION TO PREEMPTION.
(a) In General.--A State law may modify, limit, or
supersede the provisions of section 3, or subsection (a) or
(b) of section 4, with respect to State law only if that
State law--
(1) either--
(A) constitutes an enactment or adoption of the Revised
Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, as approved and recommended for
enactment in all the States by the National Conference of
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 2018 or the Revised
Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, as approved and recommended for
enactment in all the States by the National Conference of
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 2021, except that a
modification to such Law enacted or adopted by a State shall
be preempted to the extent such modification--
(i) is inconsistent with a provision of section 3 or
subsection (a) or (b) of section 4, as applicable; or
(ii) would not be permitted under subparagraph (B); or
(B) specifies additional or alternative procedures or
requirements for the performance of notarizations with
respect to electronic records or for remotely located
individuals, if those additional or alternative procedures or
requirements--
(i) are consistent with section 3 and subsections (a) and
(b) of section 4; and
(ii) do not accord greater legal effect to the
implementation or application of a specific technology or
technical specification for performing those notarizations;
and
(2) requires the retention of an audio and visual recording
of the performance of a notarization for a remotely located
individual for a period of not less than 5 years after the
recording is created.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in section 5 or 6 may be
construed to preclude the recognition of a notarization under
applicable State law, regardless of whether such State law is
consistent with section 5 or 6.
SEC. 10. STANDARD OF CARE; SPECIAL NOTARIAL COMMISSIONS.
(a) State Standards of Care; Authority of State Regulatory
Officials.--Nothing in this Act may be construed to prevent a
State, or a notarial regulatory official of a State, from--
(1) adopting a requirement in this Act as a duty or
standard of care under the laws of that State or sanctioning
a notary public for breach of such a duty or standard of
care;
(2) establishing requirements and qualifications for, or
denying, refusing to renew, revoking, suspending, or imposing
a condition on, a commission or appointment as a notary
public;
(3) creating or designating a class or type of commission
or appointment, or requiring an endorsement or other
authorization to be received by a notary public, as a
condition on the authority to perform notarizations with
respect to electronic records or for remotely located
individuals; or
(4) prohibiting a notary public from performing a
notarization under section 3 or 4 as a sanction for a breach
of duty or standard of care or for official misconduct.
(b) Special Commissions or Authorizations Created by a
State; Sanction for Breach or Official Misconduct.--A notary
public may not perform a notarization under section 3 or 4
if--
(1)(A) the notary public's State has enacted a law that
creates or designates a class or type of commission or
appointment, or requires an endorsement or other
authorization to be received by a notary public, as a
condition on the authority to perform notarizations with
respect to electronic records or for remotely located
individuals; and
(B) the commission or appointment of the notary public is
not of the class or type or the notary public has not
received the endorsement or other authorization; or
(2) the notarial regulatory official of the notary public's
State has prohibited the notary public from performing the
notarization as a sanction for a breach of duty or standard
of care or for official misconduct.
SEC. 11. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act or the application of such
provision to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid
or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and the
application of the provisions thereof to other persons or
circumstances shall not be affected by that holding.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 3962.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 3962, the Securing
and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of
2022.
In the modern era, you can cash a check, book a flight, and lock and
unlock your doors all from the convenience of your smartphone. To get
something notarized, a process of authenticating documents required for
wills, marriage certificates, mortgages, and other valuable assets,
many States still require a person to physically appear before a notary
public.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person notarizations
were not only inconvenient but also posed a health risk. In-person
notarizations forced far too many consumers to choose between
potentially exposing themselves to COVID-19 in purchasing a house or
updating their wills.
To protect consumers and commerce, dozens of States enacted laws or
took emergency actions to permit electronic and remote online
notarizations. Such notarizations allow the consumer and the notary to
execute notarizations through secure audio-visual communications.
As our lives are returning to a new normal, it has become apparent
that electronic and remote online notarizations are a valuable tool for
facilitating commerce and making notarial services more accessible.
Such tools are particularly important for vulnerable populations like
the elderly, underserved communities, and those
[[Page H7119]]
lacking access to reliable transportation.
But State action alone cannot ensure universal access to electronic
and remote online notarizations that need robust security standards and
consumer protections. This Nation lacks a universal standard for
electronic and remote online notarizations.
As a result, there is no standard that permits nationwide use of
electronic and remote online notarizations, creates robust security
requirements, and ensures electronic and remote online notarizations
are valid nationwide.
That is why I thank Congresswoman Dean for the SECURE Notarization
Act. This legislation will transition notarization to the 21st century
without sacrificing security, making the process more convenient and
safer for the American public.
I commend Representative Dean for her leadership on this bipartisan
legislation. She has been pressing for this to get out of committee and
on the floor, and we are finally here today.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3962
today, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of H.R. 3962, the Securing and
Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2022.
Historically, notarization has required a person to appear before a
notary public. However, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,
such in-person appointments were paused, causing States to permit
remote online notarizations so as to ensure commerce would not come to
a halt when so many other things were.
The passage of H.R. 3962, which establishes nationwide standards and
technical requirements for remote online notarization, showcases the
benefits that technology can have to reduce the barriers on commerce in
America and provide an easier way of life for our constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Dean and Armstrong for their
work on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3962, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean), the sponsor of this bill.
Ms. DEAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone for his work and that
of his committee. I thank Representative Carter, and I especially thank
Representative Armstrong for working alongside me on the SECURE
Notarization Act, H.R. 3962.
The SECURE Notarization Act will authorize nationwide use of remote
online notarization, also known as RON, and would include key consumer
protections, including multifactor authentication of the signer and the
use of tamper-evident technology. The bill would also ensure the
certainty of interstate recognition of RON.
Importantly, this bill sets a floor for the use of remote online
notarization, and States will be able to regulate further protections
as they decide.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us so much about the necessity and
the benefits of new technologies used to streamline services for
consumers across industries. Remote online notarization has been and
should continue to be a time-saving, convenient, and safe way for
consumers to execute important documents.
Notarizations are used extensively in real estate transactions and in
other key areas, including affidavits, powers of attorney, living
wills, advance directives, and more.
Remote online notarizations allow the consumer, notary, and other
parties to a transaction to be in different locations using two-way
audio-visual communication to securely notarize documents. This process
provides assured consumer access to notarization and affords customers
options and flexible scheduling.
This is key: Remote online notarization allows flexibility for people
who are chronically ill or immobile, for parents who can't get away
from work or are taking care of their children, for servicemembers
abroad seeking to buy a home or correct wills.
I know well the impact this bill could have for notary publics across
the country. When I served as a State representative in Pennsylvania,
most members of our team were notaries, and our office served as a
notary hub for the local community. I know many people struggled making
appointments, often because of a lack of transportation or because they
were ill and physically unable to move. Remote online notarization
would have allowed us to streamline our performance and better serve
our community.
This legislation will help streamline notary processes into the
digital and electronic consumer-facing ecosystem, ensuring as people
become more reliant on digital spaces, platforms, and services, they
still have access to services as important as our notary system.
This bill is supported by more than 120 of our colleagues. It passed
out of the Energy and Commerce Committee by 56-0. It is supported by a
coalition of 20 industry partners. Simply stated, it is commonsense and
convenient legislation that is completely secure.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member McMorris
Rodgers, as well as Representative Carter, for their support of this
bill, moving it swiftly through the Energy and Commerce Committee to
the House floor. I also thank Congressmen Perlmutter and Reschenthaler
for being strong allies and supporters of this bill as we work to forge
a path.
Finally, I thank the co-lead of this legislation, Congressman Kelly
Armstrong. I see Mr. Armstrong here. I am delighted to have worked with
him. I thank him for all of his work and the work of his staff in
helping us make this strong piece of bipartisan legislation. We took
this bill on the road and gathered a tremendous amount of support and
had fun along the way.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong), the
Republican sponsor of this bill.
{time} 1645
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3962, the SECURE Notarization Act,
is a bipartisan bill that would authorize the nationwide use of remote,
online notarizations, which is simply an electronic notarization where
the party and notary are in different locations.
Society has widely adopted remote meetings, events, and even social
activities. Requirements for a signer to be physically present before a
notary are often impractical and sometimes impossible, such as with
military deployments or travel restrictions.
Remote online notarization increases the use of notarization and
allows individuals to conduct crucial business, particularly if both
parties are unable to be physically present with a notary.
This bill would provide businesses and individuals with the ability
to execute documents using two-way audiovisual communication, while
protecting consumers with multifactor authentication and tamper-evident
technology.
The bill would not replace State laws governing the authorization and
regulation of notaries public, nor would this bill alter State control
over the practice of law or commonly notarized legal papers, like
estate documents.
It would simply provide for the recognition of remote notarization
performed in interstate commerce, Federal courts, and would ensure the
recognition of remote notarizations performed under another State's
law.
This is similar to the Full Faith and Credit Clause and
implementation statutes that ensure the recognition of official
activities or judicial proceedings in another State.
Again, this has been said, but this bill has 123 cosponsors. It
proceeded through regular order. It passed the Energy and Commerce
Committee with a 56-0 vote. It also has the support of 20 organizations
like the American Land Title Association, which utilizes notaries
public on a daily basis.
Mr. Speaker, I, too, thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms.
Dean), my friend, for working so closely with our office and having a
lot of fun as we moved the notary bill forward. If you think having fun
on a notary bill is easy, Mr. Speaker, you have got to work at it, but
we have had a lot of fun, and I appreciate it.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H7120]]
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage my
colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues on both sides
of the aisle to support this very important piece of bipartisan
legislation. In the aftermath of COVID, we realize more and more that
this type of electronic notarization really is the way to go.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3962, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________