Congress
Senate Commerce votes to advance key kids’ safety measure
The Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to advance the Kids Online Safety Act, a key measure that would require companies to develop online platforms with children’s safety in mind — but offered few signs that Congress has reached consensus on the debate about how to protect youths on the internet.
The measure, championed by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), would increase protections for minors’ data and require platforms to give users the option to opt out of personalized algorithms.
“We’re sending a message to Big Tech that the era of Big Tech profiting off of our children is over,” Blackburn said during the committee markup — while acknowledging that it differs dramatically from a competing kids’ safety bill in the House.
For now at least, the Senate bill’s advancement represents a major win for kids’ safety advocates who have repeatedly called on committee members to advance KOSA as written, including a crucial provision known as “duty of care.”
And not all the kids’ safety bills the panel considered Wednesday morning are moving forward.
Senate Commerce lawmakers earlier in the markup failed to advance an age verification measure because the panel did not reach quorum in a 15-13 voice vote. That legislation has provoked concerns from some Silicon Valley companies as well as free speech advocates, who contend it would imperil anonymity on the internet.
The duty of care provision, central to the Senate version, was omitted from the House measure in the kids’ safety package the chamber passed in June.
“The Senate cannot and will not accept the version that the House passed earlier. It is toothless, and it is a very pale imitation of the Senate version, and therefore it is a pale imitation of big tech accountability,” Blackburn said during the committee markup.
KOSA could now head to the Senate floor for a full vote. The bill previously passed the chamber overwhelmingly by a 91-3 vote in 2024 but subsequently stalled in the House.
Speaker Mike Johnson spoke to Rep. Chuck Edwards in the hours before the North Carolina Republican ended his reelection campaign in an early-morning X post, a Johnson aide familiar with the conversation said.
Johnson declined to say in a Tuesday night interview with POLITICO whether Edwards should continue his campaign after the House Ethics Committee recommended his censure over “inappropriate conduct” with young women on his staff. He said Edwards had “a big decision” to make and that he planned to discuss the matter with him further.
That conversation happened overnight, the aide familiar with the conversation said, with Johnson encouraging Edwards “to make the right decision for his family and everyone.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune took an initial step Wednesday to allow votes on bipartisan college sports legislation, though it remains unclear how soon it could pass the chamber.
Led by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the Protect College Sports Act would rewrite the national rules for how college athletes are paid and how conferences can expand.
The bill got a boost recently when the Southeastern and Big Ten megaconferences dropped their opposition after the senators agreed to institute a “hard cap” on athlete payments for schools with revenue-sharing deals while preserving an athlete’s ability to secure deals for their name, image and likeness on the open market.
Cruz, Cantwell and other allies have spent recent days pitching the bill to colleagues and have expressed optimism that revised text released Tuesday could garner well over 60 votes needed in the Senate.
Thune’s move allows for an initial vote as soon as Friday, though a deal could speed things up. He also set up potential votes on Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general and a stopgap spending bill punting a shutdown deadline until December.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Two Florida Republican House members — Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos — shook up the state’s 7th District GOP primary Wednesday by endorsing Ryan Elijah over the embattled and Trump-endorsed incumbent, Rep. Cory Mills.
The move is the latest sign of the GOP turning up the heat on Mills, who has struggled to raise money amid an ongoing House ethics investigation. A judge issued a restraining order last year after Mills was accused by a former girlfriend of threatening to circulate sexually explicit videos of her. Mills has denied any wrongdoing. By supporting Elijah, a former FOX 35 Orlando anchor, the lawmakers are attempting to rally behind one of the four Republicans in the running, with Democrats seeking a possible flip.
“We need leaders in Congress who serve with integrity, energy, and an unwavering commitment to the people who sent them there. Ryan Elijah is that leader,” Luna and Haridopolos said onsocial media.
But aside from backing Elijah, Luna went further to say Mills should drop out of the race.
“He needs to not be seeking reelection,” Luna said in a text message to Blue Light News.
Elijah faces an Aug. 18 primary headlined by Mills, whom President Donald Trump endorsed as a “Successful Entrepreneur, and Brave U.S. Army Combat Veteran and Bronze Star recipient.” The race also features Michael Don Johnson, an Army veteran and former Army intelligence specialist whosued in a failed attempt to kick Mills off the ballot, and businesswoman Sarah Ulrich.
Elijah maintains that attacking Mills has not been a focus of his campaign, as he instead tells voters the allegations against his opponent are serious and that the House Ethics panel should continue its probe.
“I’m honored to have the endorsements of two Florida Representatives I deeply respect,” Elijah said in a statement to Blue Light News. “They understand what’s at stake in our congressional race and know I’m the clear choice to win in November.”
Mills did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the endorsement.
Kimbery Leonard and Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
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