Washington (May 23, 2024) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) issued the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce did not take up their bipartisan, bicameral Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) at its markup today as a standalone bill.

“As our nation suffers a devastating youth mental health crisis, we are disappointed the House Energy and Commerce Committee did not vote on COPPA 2.0 as a standalone bill. Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation was intensely vetted, has strong support on both sides of the aisle, and was passed unanimously by the Senate Commerce Committee. The House Energy and Commerce Committee should have advanced our well supported and desperately needed bill as a standalone measure that sends a strong message to Big Tech that kids’ and teens' privacy is our priority. Our nation’s youth and their parents deserve help now.”

In April, Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14), and Representative Tim Walberg (MI-05) introduced the House companion to COPPA 2.0. In February 2024, Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, agreed to cosponsor COPPA 2.0. In July 2023, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously passed COPPA 2.0.

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