News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today's markup of 18 bills to protect children and teens online.

Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Good morning, and welcome to today’s subcommittee markup, another important step in advancing legislation to protect children online.

“Our children are facing an online epidemic. Around 95 percent of teenagers use social media, and far too many have been cyberbullied or faced other harms online. This issue is personal – we have parents on both sides of the aisle, and all of us represent families back home who have been affected.

“In my home district in Tampa Bay, we lost 16-year-old McKenna Brown after relentless online bullying. Her tragedy—and the heartbreak of her family—is a constant reminder of why we must act.

“It’s because of countless stories like this, that we’re here today.

“We’re considering nearly twenty bills, that together form a comprehensive strategy to protect kids and teens online. Our approach is clear: protect kids, empower parents, and future proof our legislation as new risks and technologies emerge. Families deserve clarity. Parents deserve control. And bad actors must face real consequences.

“The Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, is among these bills—a strong proposal with concrete safeguards and obligations for companies, and one I am proud to lead.

“But no single bill is a complete solution. These proposals work together, complementing and reinforcing one another to create the safest possible environment for children. There is no one-size-fits-all bill to protect kids online—and our plan reflects that.

“Parents must be empowered to safeguard their children online. Just as a parent can guide their kids’ activities at home and in school, they should be able to guide their children’s activities online. Our bills ensure parents have the tools and information they need to keep their kids safe in a modern, increasingly complex environment.

“The status quo is unacceptable, and we are here to change and ensure meaningful consequences for platforms that fail to protect our kids.

“Today is about progress. It’s about setting aside differences and doing right by the families who are counting on us. I’m confident that, working together, we can advance meaningful, bipartisan solutions that give parents peace of mind and make the online world safer for every child. I appreciate the hard work of my colleagues, and I look forward to continuing this effort in the days ahead.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a markup of several kids internet and digital safety bills.

“Today we advanced 18 measures to empower parents with stronger, smarter tools to help them keep their kids safe online,” said Chairman Bilirakis. “Protecting children in the digital age is not optional—it is a moral imperative and today was an important step forward in achieving this goal.”

Legislative Vote Summary

• H.R. 6290, Safe Social Media Act, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6259, No Fentanyl on Social Media Act, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6289, Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6437, Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 5360, AI Warnings And Resources for Education (AWARE) Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6499, Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 2657, Sammy’s Law, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6265, Safer Guarding of Adolescents from Malicious Interactions on Network Games (GAMING) Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6273, Stop Profiling Youth and (SPY) Kids Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6253, Algorithmic Choice and Transparency Act, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6489, Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative (SAFE) Bots Act, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 1623, Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6257, Safe Messaging for Kids Act of 2025, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 3149, App Store Accountability Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6333, Parents Over Platforms Act, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6292, Don’t Sell Kids’ Data Act of 2025, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6484, Kids Online Safety Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 13 Yeas to 10 Nays.
• H.R. 6291, Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, was forwarded without amendment to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 14 Yeas to 10 Nays.

Below are key excerpts from today’s markup:

Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09) on H.R. 6489, the Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative (SAFE) Bots Act: “Kids aren’t just scrolling feeds. They’re forming real emotional attachments to AI chatbots that can mimic authority, appear trustworthy, and respond at all hours. [...] Parents are, quite simply, outmatched, and the status quo is not acceptable. The SAFE Bots Act creates clear baseline guardrails. It prohibits AI from impersonating licensed professionals—no chatbots should act like a doctor or a therapist to a child. It requires age-appropriate disclosure so minors know they are talking to AI, not a human, and that the chatbots cannot provide licensed professional advice.”

Congressman John James (MI-10) on H.R. 3149, the App Store Accountability Act: “App stores should follow the same commonsense rules we expect from every small business. If a corner store can’t knowingly sell adult or addictive products to minors, then neither should the world’s largest digital storefronts.”

Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) on H.R. 6484, the Kids Online Safety Act: “KOSA protects kids across America by mandating default safeguards and easy-to-use parental controls to empower families. [...] KOSA will broadly protect kids and teens, while the other bills before us address particular harms or take specific approaches to help ensure no existing threat is left unaddressed. In many ways, those bills make KOSA even stronger by working alongside them. [...] It is the foundation and the safety net with concrete safeguards to keep kids and teens safe.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a subcommittee markup of 18 bills to protect children and teens online. WHAT : Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade markup of 18 bills. DATE: Thursday, December 11, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Items to be considered: H.R. 6290 , Safe Social Media Act (Reps. Bentz and Schrier) H.R. 6259 , No Fentanyl on Social Media Act (Reps. Evans and Dingell) H.R. 6289 , Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act (Reps. Lee-FL and Soto) H.R. 6437 , Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act (Reps. Fry and Landsman) H.R. 5360 , AI Warnings And Resources for Education (AWARE) Act (Reps. Houchin and Auchincloss) H.R. 6499 , Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act (Reps. Fulcher and Landsman) H.R. 2657 , Sammy’s Law (Reps. Wasserman Schultz and Carter-GA) H.R. 6265 , Safer Guarding of Adolescents from Malicious Interactions on Network Games (GAMING) Act (Rep. Kean) H.R. 6273 , Stop Profiling Youth and (SPY) Kids Act (Rep. Miller-Meeks) H.R. 6253 , Algorithmic Choice and Transparency Act (Rep. Cammack) H.R. 6489 , Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative (SAFE) Bots Act (Rep. Houchin) H.R. 1623 , Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act (Rep. Miller-IL) H.R. 6257 , Safe Messaging for Kids Act of 2025 (Rep. Dunn) H.R. 3149 , App Store Accountability Act (Rep. James) H.R. 6333 , Parents Over Platforms Act (Reps. Auchincloss and Houchin) H.R. 6292 , Don’t Sell Kids’ Data Act of 2025 (Rep. Pallone) H.R. 6484 , Kids Online Safety Act (Rep. Bilirakis) H.R. 6291 , Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (Reps. Walberg and Lee-FL) This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Alex Khlopin at Alex.Khlopin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov . ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding one Full Committee Hearing and two Subcommittee Markups. Read more below. SUBCOMMITTEE MARKUP: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will hold a markup of seven bills to reform permitting under the Clean Air Act.  DATE: Wednesday, December 10, 2025   TIME: 10:15 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building SUBCOMMITTEE MARKUP: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a markup of 18 bills to protect children and teens online.  DATE: Thursday, December 11, 2025  TIME: 10:15 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: The Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding a Member Day Hearing to allow all Members of the House of Representatives an opportunity to testify before the Committee. DATE: Friday, December 12, 2025 TIME: 9:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, issued the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it will hold a workshop on age verification technology. “As the digital economy continues to evolve at a rapid pace, we must ensure that new and emerging technologies are put to work to empower parents and safeguard children and teens,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis. “Age verification and estimation practices hold great promise to build a safer online world for America’s young people. We thank President Trump, Chairman Ferguson, and Commissioner Meador for holding this timely workshop on age verification and estimation practices and look forward to advancing our shared goal of keeping the next generation safe.” CLICK HERE to read the FTC’s announcement. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a legislative hearing titled Legislative Solutions to Protect Children and Teens Online. “For too long, tech companies have failed to adequately protect children and teens from the dangers of the online world. Today, we examined a suite of online safety bills designed to address the growing challenges facing our kids in the digital age,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “Parents, educators, and lawmakers all agree that meaningful, lasting protections are urgently needed—and today’s discussion marked an important step toward achieving them.” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02): “We’re living through a crisis right now. We’ve handed our children’s devices that are more powerful than the most powerful computers that sent men to the moon, but we’ve failed to install the digital equivalent of seatbelts and smoke detectors.” Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15): “Digital technologies change so fast that even the most engaged parents struggle to keep up with the latest apps and features. That’s why the Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act would direct the FTC to launch a nationwide education campaign to help kids and parents learn how to stay safe.” Congressman John James (MI-10): “Just as brick-and-mortar stores are held responsible for selling age restricted materials like tobacco or alcohol to minors, the App Store Accountability Act will hold digital app stores accountable for providing adult or addictive material to minors as well.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled Legislative Solutions to Protect Children and Teens Online . Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Good morning, and welcome to today’s hearing to discuss legislative solutions to protect children online.  “Our children are facing an online epidemic. This issue is personal – we have parents on both sides of the aisle, and we all have constituents who have been affected. They are why we’re here today. “We’re examining almost twenty bills, which together form a comprehensive strategy to protect kids online. Our approach is straightforward: protect kids, empower parents, and future proof our legislation as new risks and technologies emerge. “These bills are not standalone solutions. They complement and reinforce one another to create the safest possible environment for children. There is no one-size-fits-all bill to protect kids online--and our plan reflects that. “Parents must be empowered to safeguard their children online. Just as a parent can observe their children’s activities and social behaviors at home and at school functions, so should they be able to check on their kid’s activities online. Our bills ensure parents have the tools and resources to keep their children safe in the modern world. A child’s life in the 21st century is much more complex than generations past, and parents need the tools to adapt. “Our bills are mindful of the Constitution’s protections for free speech. We’ve seen it in the states –laws with good intentions have been struck down for violating the First Amendment. We are learning from those experiences because a law that gets struck down in court does not protect a single child. And the status quo is unacceptable. “All our bills employ this strategy–including the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, that I am proud to lead. KOSA sets a national standard to protect kids across America. It mandates default safeguards and easy-to-use parental controls to empower families. “It blocks children from being exposed to or targeted with ads for illegal or inappropriate content like drugs and alcohol. It takes on addictive design features that keep kids hooked and harm their mental health. And most importantly, it holds Big Tech accountable with mandatory audits and strong enforcement by the FTC and state attorneys general. “I made precise changes to ensure KOSA is durable. Don’t mistake durability for weakness – this bill has teeth. By focusing on design features rather than protected speech we will ensure it can withstand legal challenge while delivering real protections for kids and families. “I am proud of the members of this subcommittee for working on legislation to address a myriad of harms and challenges. This issue is personal to every one of us up here, and it shows in the number of bills before us today. I know this is a shared, bipartisan goal – my office is open, call me, or find me on the floor. Let’s find a way to work together and save America’s kids from the threats they are facing online.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a hearing titled Legislative Solutions to Protect Children and Teens Online . “For too long, tech companies have failed to adequately protect children and teens from perils online. One week from today, this Committee will begin advancing a suite of online safety bills to address the challenges facing our kids in the digital age,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis. “Parents and lawmakers both agree on the importance of enacting meaningful protections that can stand the test of time, so we look forward to this important first step.” Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing titled Legislative Solutions to Protect Children and Teens Online. WHAT: Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing to examine ways to protect children and teens online. DATE: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building The hearing will focus on the following bills: H.R. 6291 , Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (Reps. Walberg and Lee)  H.R. ____ , Kids Online Safety Act (Rep. Bilirakis)  H.R. ____ , Reducing Exploitative Social Media Exposure for Teens (RESET) Act (Rep. Houchin)  H.R. 2657 , Sammy’s Law (Reps. Wasserman Schultz and Carter-GA)   H.R. 3149 , App Store Accountability Act (Rep. James)  H.R. 1623 , Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act (Rep. Miller-IL)   H.R. 6290 , Safe Social Media Act (Reps. Bentz and Schrier)  H.R. 6253 , Algorithmic Choice and Transparency Act (Rep. Cammack)  H.R. 6259 , No Fentanyl on Social Media Act (Reps. Evans and Dingell)  H.R. 6289 , Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act (Reps. Lee and Soto)  H.R. ____ , Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative (SAFE) Bots Act (Reps. Houchin and Auchincloss)  H.R. ____ , Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act (Rep. Fry)  H.R. 5360 , AI Warnings And Resources for Education (AWARE) Act (Reps. Houchin and Auchincloss)  H.R. 6265 , Safer Guarding of Adolescents from Malicious Interactions on Network Games (GAMING) Act (Rep. Kean)  H.R. ____ , Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act (Reps. Fulcher and Landsman)  H.R. 6273 , Stop Profiling Youth and (SPY) Kids Act (Rep. Miller-Meeks)  H.R. 6257 , Safe Messaging for Kids Act (Rep. Dunn)   H.R. 6292 , Don’t Sell Kids’ Data Act of 2025 (Rep. Pallone)  H.R. ____ , Parents Over Platforms Act (Reps. Auchincloss and Houchin) This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Alex Khlopin at Alex.Khlopin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov . ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled Daylight and Destinations: Examining Time, Travel, and Tourism. Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:  “Good morning, and welcome to today’s hearing examining time, travel, and tourism and how they can strengthen our economy and our communities. Thank you to our witnesses for their testimony. “For me, this topic hits home. I grew up in Tarpon Springs, Florida, where the Sponge Docks and our annual Epiphany celebration have welcomed visitors from around the world for generations. In Florida’s 12th District of Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties—tourism supports family-owned restaurants, hotels, and outfitters, helping to sustain our Nature Coast way of life.  “In Crystal River you can swim with the manatees. In Weeki Wachee Springs, you can see the famous live Mermaid show. And in Pasco County is home to a vibrant sports tourism industry with countless kayaking waterways and the AdventHealth Ice Rink. “To further highlight the importance of tourism to the State of Florida, I’d like to introduce for the record a study commissioned by Visit Florida showing tourism’s economic impact in the state; as well as Visit Florida’s Marketing Effectiveness survey revealing tourist preferences and ways to boost demand. (so ordered). “Nationwide, travelers spent roughly $1.3 trillion last year, generating nearly $3 trillion in economic output and supporting over 15 million jobs. International visitors alone spent over $250 billion. As we prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, we have a once-in-a-generation runway to welcome the world and spread those benefits to communities large and small. “A critical tool here is Brand USA, our public-private partnership that markets American destinations abroad. I was proud to author the bipartisan Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014 to reauthorize Brand USA, because it helps attract visitors without relying on taxpayer dollars for funding. We should ensure Brand USA remains strong and accountable as the global competition for travelers intensifies. To achieve that, I filed legislation yesterday with Mrs. Castor to increase funding for Brand USA, as we gear up for the America 250 celebrations. “Today we’ll also examine the tradeoffs to commerce, health, and safety that come with Daylight Saving Time and any adjustments to our clock changing practices. Many argue that more evening daylight boosts consumer activity and tourism; others raise valid concerns about sleep, road safety, and school routines. “Our job is to take actions that help American workers, businesses, and visitors alike, so we can deliver wins for communities like mine and yours—giving families and businesses opportunity and certainty, whether we ‘lock the clock’ or maintain the status quo.” ###