Union Calendar No. 222
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1714
[Report No. 106–341, Parts I and II]
A BILL
To facilitate the use of electronic records and
signatures in interstate or foreign commerce.
OCTOBER 15, 1999
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed
IB
Union Calendar No. 222
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1714
[Report No. 106–341, Parts I and II]
To facilitate the use of electronic records and signatures in interstate or
foreign commerce.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 6, 1999
Mr. BLILEY (for himself, Mr. DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. TAUZIN, Mr. OXLEY, Mr.
TOWNS, and Mr. FOSSELLA) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Commerce
SEPTEMBER 27, 1999
Reported with an amendment and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
for a period ending not later than October 15, 1999, for consideration
of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of that committee pursuant to clause 1(k), rule X
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
OCTOBER 15, 1999
Additional sponsors: Mr. DREIER, Mr. BURR of North Carolina, Mr.
PICKERING, Mr. SHADEGG, and Mr. CANNON
OCTOBER 15, 1999
Reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment, com-
mitted to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in boldface roman]
[For text introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 6, 1999]
A BILL
To facilitate the use of electronic records and signatures
in interstate or foreign commerce.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Electronic Signatures
in Global and National Commerce Act’’.
TITLE 
I—VALIDITY 
OF 
ELEC-
TRONIC RECORDS AND SIG-
NATURES FOR COMMERCE
SEC. 101. GENERAL RULE OF VALIDITY.
(a) GENERAL RULE.—With respect to any contract or
agreement entered into in or affecting interstate or foreign
commerce, notwithstanding any statute, regulation, or other
rule of law, the legal effect, validity, or enforceability of
such contract or agreement shall not be denied—
(1) on the ground that the contract or agreement
is not in writing if the contract or agreement is an
electronic record; or
(2) on the ground that the contract or agreement
is not signed or is not affirmed by a signature if the
contract or agreement is signed or affirmed by an
electronic signature.
(b) AUTONOMY OF PARTIES IN COMMERCE.—With re-
spect to any contract or agreement entered into in or affect-
ing interstate or foreign commerce—
(1) the parties to such contract or agreement
may establish procedures or requirements regarding
the use and acceptance of electronic records and elec-
tronic signatures acceptable to such parties; and
(2) the legal effect, validity, or enforceability of
such contract or agreement shall not be denied because
of the type or method of electronic record or electronic
signature selected by the parties in establishing such
procedures or requirements.
SEC. 102. AUTHORITY TO ALTER OR SUPERSEDE GENERAL
RULE.
(a) PROCEDURE TO ALTER OR SUPERSEDE.—Except
as provided in subsection (b), a State statute, regulation,
or other rule of law enacted or adopted after the date of
enactment of this Act may modify, limit, or supersede the
provisions of section 101 if such statute, regulation, or rule
of law—
(1)(A) constitutes an enactment or adoption of
the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as reported