Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will bring two key kids online safety bills up for a vote after securing enough support for passage, his office said.
Why it matters: Lawmakers have worked on refining the bills for more than a year, fielding a myriad of concerns from LGBTQ+ rights advocates and other groups who warned of unintended consequences.
- The changes have brought some groups on board, though other objectors remain.
Driving the news: The chamber will vote on Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn's Kids Online Safety Act and Sens. Ed Markey and Bill Cassidy's Children's and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act.
- Schumer's office said he worked with Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell and the bill sponsors to get the legislation ready for the floor and ensure the support is there for passage.
State of play: Schumer on Tuesday will tee up the legislative vehicle for the KOSA and COPPA 2.0 package.
- A cloture vote to end debate on the package could come as soon as Thursday.
- Companion bills have been introduced in the House, where there is also bipartisan interest to protect kids online.
"It has been long and daunting road to get this bill passed, which can change and save lives, but today, we are one monumental step closer to success," Schumer said in a statement, citing recent meetings with families who place blame on social media for the loss of their children.
The big picture: Schumer has long promised action on these bills, and has a small window to move them on the floor before August recess.
- The move happens as a federal online privacy bill languishes between the Senate and the House.
Our thought bubble: Kids online safety has always had a better shot of moving than a more comprehensive privacy bill, and we could finally see that come to fruition this week.
