Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, by an overwhelmingly bipartisan 30-4 vote. The bill makes the moratorium on Internet access taxes permanent and also prohibits multiple or discriminatory taxation of e-commerce. The current law expires on November 1^st, so Congress must act quickly to extend the law and protect consumers and businesses that rely on the Internet.

Although a few Members on the House Judiciary Committee offered amendments to change the legislation and some expressed a desire to address Internet sales taxes with this legislation, the bill was approved without any substantial changes. The bill now awaits action on the House floor and then the U.S. Senate.