Survivor Parents Heartbroken Over House Leadership’s Decision Not to Include KOSA in End-of-Year Package

ParentsSOS members issued the following statement today in response to House leadership’s decision not to include the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the end-of-year Continuing Resolution:

“As parents whose children lost their lives to online harms, we are devastated that KOSA will not become law this year. Speaker Mike Johnson and House leadership have ignored our pleas and those of American families across this country in favor of Big Tech’s seemingly limitless resources to obstruct desperately needed change. It is, frankly, unconscionable that the Speaker refused to act while children continue to die.

We have spent more than two years telling the story of the worst day of our lives over and over again in the hopes that it would compel our elected officials to protect children from the profound threats of social media. We had hoped that by sharing our grief and explaining the pernicious dangers lurking on these platforms, lawmakers would act to shield other children and spare other families from the kind of suffering we endure daily.

The Speaker claims he is going to work on online safety next year. Delaying is an industry tactic and only actions, not words, will protect children. Earlier this year, the Speaker communicated to a survivor parent that he would work to advance KOSA this year and since then, he has only obstructed and recited industry talking points. In the end, $90 million in lobbying fees and Big Tech were too insurmountable for 20 grieving parents to get Congress to pass legislation that would prevent future children from dying from online harms. Profit won over saving lives.

Despite this heartbreaking failure to act by our elected leaders, we will not stop fighting to protect children from online harms, even as we mourn this profound failure of leadership. Our children deserved better, and so do all children in America.”

ParentsSOS Members:
Julianna Arnold, mother of Coco Konar, forever 17
Joanne Bogard, mother of Mason Bogard, forever 15
Kristin Bride, mother of Carson Bride, forever 16
Jennie DeSerio, mother of Mason Edens, forever 16
Maurine Molak, mother of David Molak, forever 16
Christine McComas, mother of Grace McComas, forever 15
Cheryl McCormick Brown, mother of McKenna Brown, forever 16
Annie McGrath, mother of Griffin McGrath, forever 13
Todd and Mia Minor, parents of Matthew Minor, forever 12
Brian Montgomery, father of Walker Montgomery, forever 16
Amy Neville, mother of Alexander Neville, forever 14
Bridgette Norring, mother Devin Norring, forever 19
Erin Popolo, mother of Emily Murrillo, forever 17
Mary Rodee, mother of Riley Basford, forever 15
Judy Rogg, mother of Erik Robinson, forever 12
Michelle Servi, mother of Jack Servi, forever 16
Deb Schmill, mother of Becca Schmill, forever 18
Avery and Lori Schott, parents of Annalee Schott, forever 18
Jeff Van Lith, father of Ethan Van Lith, forever 13
Sharon Winkler, mother of Alex Peiser, forever 17

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