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Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act

Public Law 106-229 · S. 761 · 106th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Jun 30, 2000 · Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor: Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI)

Cosponsors (13): Sen. John McCain,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 426 yea, 4 nay426–4
  • SenateRecorded vote: 87 yea, 0 nay87–0
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act - Title I: Electronic Records and Signatures in Commerce - Prohibits a rule of law from denying the legal effect of certain transactions in interstate or foreign commerce on the ground that: (1) the signature, contract, or record of such transaction is in electronic form; and (2) with respect to a contract, an electronic signature or electronic record was used in its formation. Defines "transaction" to mean the sale, lease, exchange, licensing, or other disposition of personal or real property and services between two or more persons.

(Sec. 101) Provides that this Act shall not: (1) limit, alter, or affect the rights and obligations of persons under law other than a requirement that such contracts or other records be written, signed, or in nonelectronic form; or (2) require a person to agree to use or accept electronic records or signatures (other than a governmental agency with respect to a record other than a contract to which it is a party).

Cites circumstances in which an electronic record (or signature) satisfies any statute, regulation, or other rule of law mandating: (1) availability to a customer of information in writing; (2) retention of a contract or record; (3) that contract or record be in writing; and (4) that record or signature be notarized.

(Sec. 102) Cites circumstances in which a State statute or rule of law may alter or supercede the general rule of validity governing transactions in electronic commerce under this Act if it: (1) constitutes an enactment or adoption of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 1999 (except that any exception to this Act by a State statute shall be preempted to the extent it is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act); or (2) specifies alternative procedures or requirements for the use or acceptance (or both) of electronic records or electronic signatures to establish the validity of contracts or records that are consistent with this Act.

(Sec. 103) Excludes from the purview of this Act certain: (1) testamentary instruments; (2) matters of family law; (3) instruments under the Uniform Commercial Code; (4) judicial documents; (5) credit-related proceedings; and (6) hazardous materials-related documents.

(Sec. 104) Declares that nothing in this Act shall limit or supercede any Federal or State regulatory agency requirement that records be filed with them in accordance with specified standards or formats.

(Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct inquiries and report to Congress on: (1) the effectiveness of the delivery of electronic records to consumers using electronic mail as compared with delivery of written records via the United States Postal Service and private express mail services; and (2) the benefits and burdens with respect to consumer consent to the use of electronic records.

Title II: Transferable Records - Sets forth certain requirements with respect to the control of electronic transferable records.

Title III: Promotion of International Electronic Commerce - Requires the Secretary to promote the acceptance and use of electronic signatures in interstate and foreign commerce.

Title IV: Commission on Online Child Protection - Amends the Child Online Protection Act to authorize the Commission on Online Child Protection to accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, to aid the work of the Commission.

Who voted for it

Every senator of the 106th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 87 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

87 yea0 nay13 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(39)

  • Sen. Paul WellstoneD-MN
  • Sen. Jack ReedD-RI
  • Sen. Frank LautenbergD-NJ
  • Sen. Barbara MikulskiD-MD
  • Sen. Paul SarbanesD-MD
  • Sen. Russell FeingoldD-WI
  • Sen. Carl LevinD-MI
  • Sen. Daniel AkakaD-HI
  • Sen. Ted KennedyD-MA
  • Sen. Richard DurbinD-IL
  • Sen. Fritz HollingsD-SC
  • Sen. Harry ReidD-NV
  • Sen. Jay RockefellerD-WV
  • Sen. Tom DaschleD-SD
  • Sen. Patty MurrayD-WA
  • Sen. Chuck SchumerD-NY
  • Sen. John KerryD-MA
  • Sen. Daniel InouyeD-HI
  • Sen. Christopher DoddD-CT
  • Sen. John EdwardsD-NC
  • Sen. Ron WydenD-OR
  • Sen. Richard BryanD-NV
  • Sen. Herb KohlD-WI
  • Sen. Tim JohnsonD-SD
  • Sen. Daniel MoynihanD-NY
  • Sen. Bob GrahamD-FL
  • Sen. Maxwell ClelandD-GA
  • Sen. Joseph BidenD-DE
  • Sen. Robert ByrdD-WV
  • Sen. Evan BayhD-IN
  • Sen. Dianne FeinsteinD-CA
  • Sen. Max BaucusD-MT
  • Sen. Jeff BingamanD-NM
  • Sen. Joseph LiebermanD-CT
  • Sen. Robert TorricelliD-NJ
  • Sen. Mary LandrieuD-LA
  • Sen. Robert KerreyD-NE
  • Sen. Blanche LincolnD-AR
  • Sen. John BreauxD-LA

Republicans who voted yea(48)

  • Sen. Lincoln ChafeeR-RI
  • Sen. Jim JeffordsR-VT
  • Sen. Arlen SpecterR-PA
  • Sen. Olympia SnoweR-ME
  • Sen. Susan CollinsR-ME
  • Sen. William RothR-DE
  • Sen. Gordon SmithR-OR
  • Sen. Spencer AbrahamR-MI
  • Sen. Mike DeWineR-OH
  • Sen. Richard LugarR-IN
  • Sen. Ted StevensR-AK
  • Sen. Peter FitzgeraldR-IL
  • Sen. Pete DomeniciR-NM
  • Sen. Slade GortonR-WA
  • Sen. George VoinovichR-OH
  • Sen. Robert BennettR-UT
  • Sen. Rick SantorumR-PA
  • Sen. Chuck GrassleyR-IA
  • Sen. Kay HutchisonR-TX
  • Sen. Kit BondR-MO
  • Sen. John McCainR-AZ
  • Sen. Bill FristR-TN
  • Sen. Thad CochranR-MS
  • Sen. Chuck HagelR-NE
  • Sen. Conrad BurnsR-MT
  • Sen. Pat RobertsR-KS
  • Sen. Strom ThurmondR-SC
  • Sen. Connie MackR-FL
  • Sen. John AshcroftR-MO
  • Sen. Fred ThompsonR-TN
  • Sen. Richard ShelbyR-AL
  • Sen. Frank MurkowskiR-AK
  • Sen. Judd GreggR-NH
  • Sen. Trent LottR-MS
  • Sen. Paul CoverdellR-GA
  • Sen. Sam BrownbackR-KS
  • Sen. Mike CrapoR-ID
  • Sen. Tim HutchinsonR-AR
  • Sen. Rod GramsR-MN
  • Sen. Jeff SessionsR-AL
  • Sen. Larry CraigR-ID
  • Sen. Jon KylR-AZ
  • Sen. Don NicklesR-OK
  • Sen. Michael EnziR-WY
  • Sen. Wayne AllardR-CO
  • Sen. Phil GrammR-TX
  • Sen. Jesse HelmsR-NC
  • Sen. Bob SmithR-NH
Data notes

The Senate’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 507 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 42 actions.

  1. Jun 30, 2000Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 106-229.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jun 20, 2000PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Jun 16, 2000Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 0. Record Vote Number: 133.Senate roll call 133
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 0. Record Vote Number: 133.Senate roll call 133
  6. Jun 15, 2000Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and manager's statement held at the desk in Senate.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report considered in Senate.
  8. Jun 14, 2000Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 426 - 4 (Roll no. 271).House roll call 271
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 426 - 4 (Roll no. 271).House roll call 271
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Bliley brought up conference report H. Rept. 106-661 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 523.
  14. FloorFloor · POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - The Chair put the question on the adoption of the conference report and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Bliley demanded the Yeas and Nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the adoption of the conference report until …
  15. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report on S. 761.
  16. FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 523 passed House.
  17. Jun 12, 2000FloorFloor · Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 523 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to S. 761. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration are waived. The conference report shall be considered as read.
  18. Jun 8, 2000Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 106-661 filed.
  19. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 106-661 filed.
  20. May 18, 2000Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference held.
  21. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conference held.
  22. Mar 29, 2000Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate appointed conferee(s) Hatch, Thurmond and Leahy from the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration of items within their jurisdiction.
  23. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate appointed conferee(s) Gramm, Bennett and Sarbanes from the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for consideration of items within their jurisdiction.
  24. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to request for conference. Appointed conferees. McCain, Burns, Stevens, Gorton, Hutchison, Abraham, Hollings, Inouye, Rockefeller, Kerry and Wyden.
  25. FloorFloor · Senate disagreed to House amendments by Unanimous Consent.
  26. Feb 22, 2000FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill and House requests a conference.
  27. Feb 16, 2000Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  28. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The Speaker appointed conferees: Bliley, Tauzin, Oxley, Dingell, and Markey.
  29. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House insist upon its amendments, and request a conference Agreed to without objection.
  30. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Bliley asked unanimous consent that the House insist upon its amendments, and request a conference.
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.