[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 23 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
[Pages 1314-1315]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Congressional Action on the ``Electronic Signatures in 
Global and National Commerce Act''

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.

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