Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who chairs the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, opened a markup session in Washington, D.C. focused on advancing legislation aimed at protecting children and teenagers online. The subcommittee is considering 18 bills designed to address various risks young people face in digital environments.
Bilirakis emphasized the urgency of the issue by noting that about 95 percent of teenagers use social media, with many experiencing cyberbullying or other online harms. He cited a case from his Tampa Bay district involving the death of 16-year-old McKenna Brown after she was bullied online. “Her tragedy—and the heartbreak of her family—is a constant reminder of why we must act,” Bilirakis said.
He explained that the legislative package represents a comprehensive strategy: “Our approach is clear: protect kids, empower parents, and future proof our legislation as new risks and technologies emerge. Families deserve clarity. Parents deserve control. And bad actors must face real consequences.”
Among the bills under consideration is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which Bilirakis described as “a strong proposal with concrete safeguards and obligations for companies.” He stressed that no single bill can fully address all challenges but said the proposals are meant to work together to create safer online environments for children.
Bilirakis also highlighted parental empowerment as a key goal: “Just as a parent can guide their kids’ activities at home and in school, they should be able to guide their children’s activities online. Our bills ensure parents have the tools and information they need to keep their kids safe in a modern, increasingly complex environment.”
He concluded by calling for bipartisan cooperation: “Today is about progress. It’s about setting aside differences and doing right by the families who are counting on us. I’m confident that, working together, we can advance meaningful, bipartisan solutions that give parents peace of mind and make the online world safer for every child.”
