    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [June 8, 2000]
    [Page 1110]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Congressional Action on Electronic Signatures Legislation
    June 8, 2000

        I am pleased that House and Senate conferees have reached bipartisan
    agreement on important electronic commerce legislation, the ``Electronic
    Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.'' This legislation will
    remove legal barriers to doing business on-line while preserving
    consumer protections. Congress should quickly send the bill to my desk.
        E-commerce offers substantial benefits for businesses and consumers
    in terms of efficiency, convenience, and lower costs and is a vital
    source of dynamism for the American economy. If we are to achieve the
    full potential of electronic business-to-business and business-to-
    consumer commerce, however, some minimal ground rules are necessary.
    Business needs legal certainty that a contract formed and executed on-
    line will be no less valid than its pen-and-ink counterpart. Consumers
    need confidence that they are as safe doing business in the electronic
    world as they are on paper.
        The bipartisan agreement reached by conferees is a responsible and
    balanced approach to accomplishing both of these goals. The legislation
    would remove barriers to E-commerce by establishing technology-neutral
    legal standards for electronic contracts and signatures. It would ensure
    that consumer protections on-line will be equivalent to those in the
    paper world.
        I applaud the leadership of Chairmen Bliley
    and McCain who reached across party lines and
    built a bipartisan consensus. I am also grateful to the Democrats who
    worked so constructively to reach bipartisan agreement in conference,
    including Senators Hollings,
    Leahy, Sarbanes, and Wyden and Congressmen
    Dingell and Markey.