House Members File Companion Bills for Kids’ Online Safety

A bipartisan group of lawmakers Tuesday introduced the House version of the Kids Online Safety Act (see 2401300086). House Innovation Subcommittee Chairman Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., introduced KOSA with Reps. Kathy Castor, D-Fla.; Erin Houchin, R-Ind.; and Kim Schrier, D-Wash. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., authored the Senate version, which the Senate Commerce Committee approved in July (see 2207270057). Castor also joined a bipartisan effort in introducing the House version of another Senate Commerce-passed kids’ safety bill, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). Castor introduced the bill with Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich. The House Commerce Committee is set to consider the bills and the American Privacy Rights Act (see 2404080062) at a legislative hearing Wednesday. “It is time for Congress to come together on comprehensive data privacy and security standards that put Americans back in control of their information online," House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said in a joint statement with ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J.