Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios
House Energy and Commerce Committee lawmakers on Wednesday half-heartedly approved the Kids Online Safety Act after changes to the bill's core provisions were watered down.
The big picture: The Senate passed a bipartisan kids online safety package this summer with a significantly different version of KOSA, meaning that the bill would need to be reconciled and face another vote if it passes the full House.
State of play: E&C advanced both KOSA and COPPA 2.0 by voice vote.
- KOSA co-sponsors Reps. Kathy Castor and Gus Bilirakis brought forward a version of the bill with weaker duty of care language, removing the language that would require companies to mitigate harms related to mental health disorders.
- Several lawmakers — including Castor, who expressed regret that she offered weakened legislation — said they were voting in favor of KOSA with the understanding that it would be strengthened before it reaches the House floor.
- But the bill taken up on Wednesday reflects negotiations with GOP leadership, and changing it risks losing that support and jeopardizing a full House vote.
What they're saying: "It's a damn shame that we're sitting here today in the situation that we're in," said Rep. Angie Craig, pointing to the Senate KOSA bill as what the House should strive for.
- E&C Ranking Member Frank Pallone did not support KOSA and also took issue with what he called House GOP leadership interference in the committee's work to pass the American Privacy Rights Act in June.
- Pallone withdrew several amendments, including one to tack on a watered down version of APRA to COPPA 2.0.
