Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Ms. DEAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone for his work and that of his committee. I thank Representative Carter, and I especially thank Representative Armstrong for working alongside me on the SECURE Notarization Act, H.R. 3962.

The SECURE Notarization Act will authorize nationwide use of remote online notarization, also known as RON, and would include key consumer protections, including multifactor authentication of the signer and the use of tamper-evident technology. The bill would also ensure the certainty of interstate recognition of RON.

Importantly, this bill sets a floor for the use of remote online notarization, and States will be able to regulate further protections as they decide.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us so much about the necessity and the benefits of new technologies used to streamline services for consumers across industries. Remote online notarization has been and should continue to be a time-saving, convenient, and safe way for consumers to execute important documents.

Notarizations are used extensively in real estate transactions and in other key areas, including affidavits, powers of attorney, living wills, advance directives, and more.

Remote online notarizations allow the consumer, notary, and other parties to a transaction to be in different locations using two-way audio-visual communication to securely notarize documents. This process provides assured consumer access to notarization and affords customers options and flexible scheduling.

This is key: Remote online notarization allows flexibility for people who are chronically ill or immobile, for parents who can't get away from work or are taking care of their children, for servicemembers abroad seeking to buy a home or correct wills.

I know well the impact this bill could have for notary publics across the country. When I served as a State representative in Pennsylvania, most members of our team were notaries, and our office served as a notary hub for the local community. I know many people struggled making appointments, often because of a lack of transportation or because they were ill and physically unable to move. Remote online notarization would have allowed us to streamline our performance and better serve our community.

This legislation will help streamline notary processes into the digital and electronic consumer-facing ecosystem, ensuring as people become more reliant on digital spaces, platforms, and services, they still have access to services as important as our notary system.

This bill is supported by more than 120 of our colleagues. It passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee by 56-0. It is supported by a coalition of 20 industry partners. Simply stated, it is commonsense and convenient legislation that is completely secure.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers, as well as Representative Carter, for their support of this bill, moving it swiftly through the Energy and Commerce Committee to the House floor. I also thank Congressmen Perlmutter and Reschenthaler for being strong allies and supporters of this bill as we work to forge a path.

Finally, I thank the co-lead of this legislation, Congressman Kelly Armstrong. I see Mr. Armstrong here. I am delighted to have worked with him. I thank him for all of his work and the work of his staff in helping us make this strong piece of bipartisan legislation. We took this bill on the road and gathered a tremendous amount of support and had fun along the way.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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