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H.R. 3220 106th Congress House

Millennium Digital Commerce Act

Official title: To regulate interstate commerce by electronic means by permitting and encouraging the continued expansion of electronic commerce through the operation of free market forces, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 4, 1999 See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Administrative procedureCivil actions and liabilityCommerceCongress
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Congressional reporting requirementsContractsElectronic commerceFederal preemptionForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkIdentification devicesInternational AffairsInterstate commerceLawLegislationState lawsUnited Nations
This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 17, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Nov 17, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.
Nov 4, 1999
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 4, 1999
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 17, 1999

Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Millennium Digital Commerce Act - Declares that an interstate contract transaction shall not be denied legal effect solely because an electronic signature or electronic record was used in its formation.

Authorizes parties to an interstate transaction to determine the appropriate electronic signature technologies for their transaction, and the means of implementing such technologies. Denies the legal effect of an electronic record of a contract required by law to be in writing, unless it is delivered to all parties in a form that can be: (1) retained for later reference; and (2) used to prove agreement terms. Provides exclusions. Prohibits a contract relating to a commercial transaction from being denied legal effect solely because its formation involved electronic agents (computers or other automated means). States as the specific intent of Congress that this section apply to the business of insurance.

Directs the Federal Government, to the extent practicable, to observe certain principles governing the use of electronic signatures in international commercial transactions, including to: (1) remove paper-based obstacles to electronic transactions by adopting relevant principles from the Model Law on Electronic Commerce adopted in 1996 by the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL); (2) permit parties to a transaction to determine the appropriate authentication technologies for such transactions, with assurance that they will be recognized and enforced; (3) permit such parties to have the opportunity to prove in court that such authentication approaches and transactions are valid; and (4) take a nondiscriminatory approach to electronic signatures and authentication methods from other jurisdictions.

Directs each Federal agency to report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of Commerce on any provision of law administered, or regulation issued, by it that imposes a barrier to electronic transactions. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress concerning any legislation needed or Executive or Federal agency action being taken to remove such barriers.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3220: Millennium Digital Commerce Act. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-3220/
MLA
"H.R. 3220: Millennium Digital Commerce Act." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-3220/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3220, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-3220/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3220: Millennium Digital Commerce Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-3220/)
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