United States Chamber of Commerce Hails Bipartisan Digital Signatures Bill Vote

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Chamber of Commerce today hailed House passage of a critical digital signatures bill, giving greater legal protection on Internet sales to businesses and consumers alike. Sponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas Bliley (R-VA), the bill makes electronic – or digital – signatures legally binding in sales or contracts.

"This bill is a giant step forward for American businesses that want to take full advantage of the digital revolution," said Rick Lane, Director of Congressional Affairs on e-commerce issues for the United States Chamber of Commerce. "Companies doing business on the Internet need to know that the digital signatures of their e-commerce customers are legally binding."

He added that the chamber worked hard to get Republicans and moderate Democrats to come together to support this key e-commerce legislation.

"We hope this signals a new era of bipartisan cooperation between House GOPers and moderate Democrats on critical e-commerce policy issues," Lane stated, praising the Democrats who, over objections of their leadership and the Administration, supported the bill.

Under the House bill, a company will be assured that an electronic contract is valid and that another party will not be able to escape their contractual obligations simply because the contract was entered into over the Internet or any other computer network.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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