New Democrats Unanimously Support Digital Signature Conference Report

WASHINGTON, DC-- After over a year of working on the issue, the New Democrat Coalition, a group of 65 pro-growth, centrist Democrats in the House of Representatives, unanimously supported legislation to facilitate the use of digital signatures.

"Ensuring that electronic records and signatures are valid and legal is a critical step as we move forward in the new economy," said NDC Communications Coordinator Adam Smith. "Consumers win with this legislation because they can continue to receive the information they need and conduct business on-line with the knowledge that the transactions they make are legitimate."

NDC Co-Chair Rep. Jim Moran added, "The passage of this bipartisan legislation will help ensure that the United States continues to be the world's leader in the new global electronic economy, and will enable Americans to take full advantage of the digital revolution."

The NDC has consistently supported legislation to provide for a uniform standard for using electronic records and electronic signatures by authoring and co-sponsoring legislation in the past. Digital signature legislation was a key priority in the NDC e-genda, the group's technology policy priorities.

After several failed attempts by the Republican leadership to pass digital signature legislation on the suspension calendar, on November 9, 1999, New Democrats led the floor fight to strengthen and pass H.R. 1714. New Democrat Member Jay Inslee (WA), joined by NDC Members Cal Dooley (CA), Anna Eshoo (CA), Jim Moran (VA), and Adam Smith (WA), authored an amendment that strengthened consumer protections, led efforts to reject an attempt to gut the legislation and then helped pass the measure with broad-based bipartisan support.

"People deserve strong consumer protections when doing business on-line," said Jay Inslee. "I am honored that my consumer protection amendment helped to bring a bipartisan majority of the House to support this legislation."

"In moving this legislation forward, New Democrats have provided consumers more choice and greater security for their on-line transactions," NDC Co-Chair Rep. Cal Dooley (CA) remarked. "By advancing this national framework for supporting e-commerce, we have made a critical step in supporting the growth of the new economy."

###

Home | Press