Biography of Rep. Bart Gordon

Bart Gordon, U.S. Representative, Sixth District of Tennessee, Democrat.

Background. Bart Gordon won election to the Sixth District in 1984, when its previous Representative, Al Gore, won a seat in the Senate. While VP Gore publicly promotes a high tech image, but often opposes key items on the high tech agenda, Bart Gordon maintains a low profile, and unfailingly supports high tech.

Rep. Gordon scored a perfect 100 in the Tech Law Journal 1998 Congressional Scorecard.

District. Bart Gordon represents the Sixth District in the middle of Tennessee. It is a rural district which recently has been picking up outer suburbs of Nashville.

Committee Assignments. Rep. Gordon sits on committees with jurisdicition over high tech legislation. He is on the House Commerce Committee, and its Telecom Subcommittee. He is also on the Science Committee, and its Technology Subcommittee.

Legislative Activities. In the 106th Congress, Rep. Gordon is the sponsor of HR 1572, the Digital Signature Act of 1999. It requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop minimum technical standards and guidelines for Federal agencies to follow when deploying digital signature technologies.

He is also a cosponsor of Rep. Anna Eshoo's (D-CA) electronic signatures bill, HR 1320. This bill provides for the acceptance of electronic signatures and records in interstate commerce. All share the same purpose: to promote electronic commerce. However, he is not a cosponsor of HR 1714, Rep. Bliley's electronic signatures bill. The main difference between HR 1320 and HR 1714 is that HR 1320 allows the states more leeway to pass laws affecting digital signatures that are still consistent with the federal standard.

Rep. Gordon is also cosponsoring several other tech related bills:

• HR 850, the SAFE Act, to liberalize encryption export restraints, and to guarantee Americans the right to use any encryption product.
• HR 516, a bill to prohibit the Secretary of the Treasury and the Federal banking agencies from implementing "know your customer" regulations.
• HR 645, a bill to provide for teacher technology training.

Rep. Gordon was one of the 28 Democrats to vote for HR 775, the Year 2000 Readiness and Responsibility Act, a bill to reform Y2K litigation, on May 12, 1999. See, roll call vote.

Elections. Rep. Gordon is a Democrat in a district that could very easily elect a Republican. He has had some difficulty recently holding on to his seat.

Education:

• College. Middle Tennessee State University, 1971.
• Law School. University of Tennessee Law School in Knoxville.

Contact Information:

• E-mail: bart.gordon@mail.house.gov
• Phone: 202-225-4231
• Fax: 202-225-6887
• Office: 2368 Rayburn House Office Building