Digital Signature Bills
HR 2991 & S 2107

• HR 2991: Electronic Commerce Enhancement Act of 1997. Sponsored by Sen Abraham.
• S 2107: Government Paperwork Elimination Act.  Sponsored by Rep. Eshoo.

HR 2991: Electronic Commerce Enhancement Act of 1997.

Sponsors.  Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Billy Tauzin (R-LA), Romero Barcelo, Boucher (D-VA),  Dooley, Evans, Frost, P. Kennedy, Kind, Steve Largent (R-OK), C. Peterson, Sawyer, Adam Smith, Stabenow, Ellen Tauscher (D-CA).

Summary.   The Electronic Commerce Enhancement Act of 1997 directs the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information (the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration) of the Department of Commerce to conduct an ongoing study of and report to specified committees concerning the enhancement of electronic commerce due to the use of digital signatures.  The Act also directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish a method for each Federal agency to make its forms available electronically.  The Act further provides for making payments electronically pursuant to such forms.

The Act sets forth provisions concerning guidelines and standards for digital signatures and certificates.

The Act permits employers to store forms electronically if such forms are submitted electronically.

Status.  No action has been taken on this bill.

Legislative History with Links to Related Materials.

• 11/9/97, HR 2991 IH, introduced.
• Referred to House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, and Subcommittee on Government Management, Information, and Technology.
• Referred to House Commerce Committee.

S 2107: Government Paperwork Elimination Act.

Sponsors. Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

Summary.  This bill would require federal agencies to make versions of their forms available online, and allow people to submit these forms with digital signatures as a standard.  It also sets up a process by which commercially developed digital signatures can be used in submitting forms to the government.  It also permits the digital storage of federal documents.

A main purpose of the bill is to promote the development of electronic commerce by furthering the acceptance and use of digital signatures.  For digital signatures to become become fully accepted in the digital marketplace they must be used and accepted by the federal government.  This bill mandates federal use of digital signatures.

Status.  A substitute version of the bill was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously by voice vote on July 29, 1998.  On October 2, it was attached to the Internet Tax Freedom Act.  It will likely be approved on October 6.

Legislative History with Links to Related Materials.

• 5/21/98, S 2107 introduced in Senate by Sen. Abraham, and referred to Senate Commerce Committee, and Communications Subcommittee.
• 6/17/98, hearing before Senate Communications Subcommittee.
• 7/15/98, hearing before Senate Commerce Committee.  (Abraham Opening Statement.)
• 7/29/98, amendment in the nature of a substitute approved by Senate Commerce Committee.
• 9/17/98, Commerce Committee Report No.105-335 issued.
• 10/2/98, Senate adopts Amendment Number ____ by unanimous voice vote, thereby attaching S 2107 RS to S 442, the "Internet Tax Freedom Act."
• 10/8/98, Senate passes S 442.