30 April 1999
Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html

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[Congressional Record: April 29, 1999 (Senate)]
[Page S4472-S4473]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr29ap99-170]


                              APPOINTMENT

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair announces on behalf of the majority
leader, pursuant to Public Law 105-277, the appointment of Delna Jones
of Oregon, Representative of Local Government, as a member of the
Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce, vice James Barksdale.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, the Internet is nearly a ubiquitous aspect
of American life. It goes without saying ``electronic commerce''--e-
commerce--has become a central aspect for buying products and services.
Only two years ago five million households shopped for some product on
the Internet. Last year that number doubled. Now the forecast for this
year is that

[[Page S4473]]

nearly 15 million households will let their keyboards do the work. This
is a threefold increase of shoppers in only two years. One can also
look at the dollar volume affected, which is predicted to double to
$31B this year.
  Mr. President, city, county and state officials are understandably
overwhelmed by this Internet Tsunami--15 million homes spending $31
billion. I have spent time talking with these public officials. I have
listened to their views. They are frightened, and they have legitimate
concerns about their sales tax base. However, electronic commerce will
not end Main Street as we now know it. I am confident public policy
will evolve to deal with the new electronic marketplace in a fair and
balanced manner.
  Although the Internet is currently accessed by almost 40 million
American homes, less than half are using the Internet for commerce
purposes. This tells me there are issues that need to be addressed
beyond how the sales tax is treated--issues like encryption, privacy
and digital signatures--all necessary components for vibrant Internet
commerce. I hope Congress will examine and act on these issues during
the 106th Congress, while the Advisory Commission on Electronic
Commerce works on the tax implications.
  The Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce must complete its
report promptly so the information is available to Congress before the
moratorium on new Internet taxes ends. Mr. President, the report date
does not need to be extended. I am very impressed with Governor Jim
Gilmore's leadership of the Commission and his aggressive technology
agenda. I commend him for his progress thus far, and I know he will
deliver on time a fair and balanced report.
  Mr. President, let me back up and say a few words about the
Commission. This provision was part of the compromise Representative
Chris Cox worked out with state and local government associations. His
efforts precipitated the legislative process and culminated in the bill
becoming law. I want to thank Representative Cox for proposing and fine
tuning the Commission. I consulted with him as Congress worked to get
this Commission up and running and appreciate his diligence and insight
throughout the process.
  Mr. President, today I also want to commend my friend Jimmy Barksdale
for graciously volunteering to step down from the Commission. He and I
both agree that the issues surrounding the Internet are too important
to let individuals and personal agendas get in the way. Jimmy decided
to step aside so the Commission can get beyond the disruptive law suit.
Let me say a few words about why I selected Jimmy in the first place--I
wanted a Mississippian who could bring Southern common sense and wisdom
to the evolving public policy for the Internet. Jimmy knows what it
takes to create a new marketplace and he understands the interplay and
context for each facet of the telecommunications sector, especially
since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 empowered many sectors to
compete with each other.
  I have selected Ms. Delna Jones to fill the vacancy. Ms. Jones is a
public official who brings the Commission into a balance between public
and private sector interests. Ms. Jones is a county official from
Washington County, Oregon, thus ensuring that each layer of local
government is now represented. Ms. Jones is from a non-sales tax state
which now means all state configurations for income and sales tax
approaches are present. Ms. Jones also worked for a telecommunications
company and is no stranger to this aspect of the communication world.
Ms. Jones will provide the Commission a voice for the 46% of all
Internet users who are female. Ms. Jones has been recognized by the
National Federation of Independent Business which tells me she is
sensitive to the needs of small business--a key component of our
economy. Her background brings a valuable professional richness to the
Commission. Senator Gordon Smith both knows and has served with Ms.
Jones in Oregon's state legislature. He believes she has the right mix
of professional and personal skills to make a meaningful and
significant contribution to the Commission.
  Mr. President, I want the record to be clear. The Commission's
imbalance was not created by me, and it is unfortunate that those who
did not fulfill the law's mandate were paralyzed and unable to offer a
real fix. I have stepped up to the problem and changed one of my
selections. Evolving Internet public policy is just too important to be
held hostage. I want America to have a vibrant electronic communication
and commerce medium for the 21st Century.
  I also want to challenge the members of the Advisory Commission on
Electronic Commerce to focus and produce recommendations that will
assist Congress in making the right public policy for the Internet.
  Mr. President, today 37 million Americans will click on the Internet
for something, perhaps a purchase. They need and deserve the right
public policy--a policy this Commission can and will influence. We
should not be afraid of this technology shift--the Internet's Tsunami,
e-commerce--nor should we ignore the consequences of how America's
commerce is or should be structured to ensure the prosperity and
vitality of America's 21st Century electronic economy.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.

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