[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5570-S5571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               KOSA-COPPA

  Mr. President, we have also taken the step to pass another piece of 
bipartisan legislation today, something that used to be standard 
operating procedure in this Chamber. We would call up bipartisan 
legislation that would address everything from the opioid crisis to 
medical innovation. Members would debate the bills; we would offer 
amendments; and, in the end, hold an up-or-down vote.
  But, sadly, this has become too rare a phenomenon. In recent years, 
the Senate, controlled by our friends on the Democratic side, have 
strayed from our core legislative duties. Instead of voting on 
bipartisan bills, marking them up in committee where everybody can 
participate, this Chamber devotes, instead, the vast majority of its 
time to things from relatively unimportant nominations to partisan show 
votes.
  As a result, major tasks like funding the government, strengthening 
our defense, are left to the last possible moment and then rushed 
across the finish line. But I am glad for today that the Senate has 
gotten back to basics and passed a strong, bipartisan package to help 
keep our kids safe online.
  Every day, our children seek content online about suicide, eating 
disorders, and drug use--and other topics that are not suitable for 
children. At the same

[[Page S5571]]

time, online bullying and harassment run rampant. And the statistics on 
teen suicide and mental health paint an alarming picture for the next 
generation.
  The bill that passed today includes two important pieces of 
legislation to help address that crisis. The Kids Online Safety Act, 
introduced by Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn, provides children and 
parents the tools and safeguards they need to keep harmful content out 
of children's social media feeds. More than two-thirds of the Senate 
sponsored these bills, including this one. And I am proud to be one of 
them.
  We also passed another bill that I was proud to cosponsor called the 
Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, introduced by 
Senators Markey and Cassidy. That bill prohibits internet companies 
from collecting personal information from their youngest users and 
establishes better safeguards to protect children's privacy. It 
protects and prevents Big Tech from tracking and targeting kids with 
the most addictive content possible.
  Congress has been working on legislation in this area for many years, 
and I want to commend Senators Blackburn and Cassidy for getting us to 
this point.
  There are a number of other bills that have passed the Judiciary 
Committee on a bipartisan basis, as the Presiding Officer knows. And I 
hope we will be able to turn to those soon. But these bills we passed 
today struck the right balance between the First Amendment and safety, 
which is no easy task--which is, perhaps, one reason why it has taken 
us so long to get here.

  But I appreciate these Senators' leadership. And I am proud the 
Senate has finally taken an important step to help keep America's 
children safe online.