WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) discussed the recent announcement that the Senate will move to consider the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).

Click here to download video of the speech and here to view it.

KOSA Vote Is a Historic Step in the Fight to Protect Children Online

“This week, the Senate is taking a historic step in the fight to protect children online by bringing the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act to the floor for a vote.

Last Congress, Senator Blumenthal and I introduced KOSA following disturbing reports that Meta leadership knew its platform Instagram is toxic for teenage girls—causing rising rates of eating disorders and mental health issues—but downplayed these harms in public.

During a series of five subcommittee hearings, we heard testimony from social media companies, advocates, and parents on the repeated failures of tech giants to protect kids—from pro-suicide content, from drug dealers, from sexual predators, from eating disorder content, from human traffickers, and so much more.”

Congress Has Not Passed Major Legislation to Protect Children Online Since 1998

“For years, Big Tech giants refused to meaningfully address these problems. But that changes with KOSA, which will finally hold them accountable.

Congress has not passed a major law to protect children online since 1998. And a lot has changed in the last 25 years.

But this moment would have been impossible without the hundreds of parents—including many who have tragically lost their children to social media harms—who have traveled to Washington over the past several years to share their heartbreaking stories and demand action.

Senator Blumenthal and I could not have accomplished this without their voices, and I want to thank all our friends and allies for their work in getting this bill on to the Senate floor.

One thing is certain: Moms on a mission have always proven to be an unstoppable force.”

Blackburn Thanks Leader Schumer, Commerce Committee Leadership, and 70 Senate Co-Sponsors

“I also want to thank Leader Schumer, Commerce Committee Chair Cantwell, Ranking Member Cruz, and our [70] Senate co-sponsors for helping us get here.

Once the Senate formally passes KOSA, our work is not done: We must ensure that the House quickly passes this bill and sends it to the President’s desk.”