Letter from Senators Trent Lott, Spencer Abraham, Bill Frist, and Bob Bennett to Sen. Tom Daschle.
Re: S 761, the Millenium Digital Commerce Act.
Date: September 29, 1999.
Source: Office of Sen. Spencer Abraham.

September 29, 1999

The Honorable Tom Daschle
Senate Minority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Minority Leader:

We are writing to express our dismay over the roadblocks that have been placed on the passage of S. 761, the Millennium Digital Commerce Act. For the sake of the Internet economy, we ask that you and your Democratic colleagues allow this legislation to move forward.

The Millennium Digital Commerce Act establishes legal certainty for the use of electronic signatures in interstate commercial transactions, and is a critical piece in the evolution of electronic commerce. S. 761 will facilitate the sale of goods over the Internet and help protect the increasing numbers of consumers who engage in online commerce.

States, high technology and other commercial sectors support this common sense legislation because it validates the use of electronic authentication technology. The legislation was marked up on June 23, and favorably reported unanimously. Since then, the Administration, not once but twice, has formally noted its support for the measure. Both the Commerce Department and the Executive Office of the President's Statement of Administration Position convey support for the passage of this Act. It is also supported by ITI, ITAA, AEA, the U.S. Chamber, NAM, IBM, HP, Gateway, Microsoft, Schwab, Ford and others.

Now, after four weeks of negotiations with the minority, the sponsors of this legislation have agreed to a compromise version of the bill. With this agreement, the Senate should be able to pass this bill easily.

Nevertheless, some of our Democratic colleagues insist on attaching non-germaine issues to this vital e-commerce bill. The Democratic minority, which claims to promote electronic commerce, is instead quashing this electronic signatures bill.

Given the overwhelming support for this legislation, we find our Democratic colleagues' efforts to thwart passage of S. 761 surprising and bewildering. We therefore urge your cooperation in moving forward this important legislation as we work to improve the environment for electronic commerce in the 21st century.

Sincerely,

Trent Lott, Majority Leader (R-MS)
Spencer Abraham (R-MI)
Robert Bennett (R-UT)
Bill Frist (R-TN)