ParentsSOS Issue Letter to Sen. Rand Paul Regarding the Kids Online Safety Act

June 24, 2024

Senator Rand Paul
295 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Paul,

As parents who have lost children to online harms and who are committed to making sure that no other family has to suffer our pain, we are writing to you today to share our disappointment in your recent remarks on the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).

For much of the past two years, we have been working tirelessly to advocate for this legislation. We have traveled to Washington, D.C. from all around the country and told the stories of the worst day of our lives countless times. Indeed, we are mothers and fathers “who’ve had tragedies,” as you have said. Our children died after experiencing online harms including vicious cyberbullying, attempting dangerous viral challenges, purchasing drugs on social media without knowing they were laced with fentanyl, experiencing sextortion, and receiving onslaughts of pro-suicide messages. 

We are fighting for KOSA because we have had “the guts” to read this legislation — as have the bill’s 68 Senate cosponsors — and we know what it will do: It will save children’s lives. If KOSA had been law when our children were alive, they would still be with us today. We do not want another family to go through what we have.

You have expressed concerns with the text of KOSA for the first time last week. It is unfortunate that these issues are arising now, as parents and advocates have been asking to meet with your office and with you personally to discuss this bill for years. While other Senators spent the last two years working to address any issues, your team has declined to work with us. In fact, three ParentsSOS members went to your office on June 5 to request a meeting to understand why you have a hold on the bill. Your office staff was dismissive and unsympathetic to our request and would not even provide the email address for the staffer responsible for tech policy issues. In our years of advocacy for this legislation, none of us have been refused email contact information or experienced such a lack of transparency. 

Senator Paul, as a father yourself, you know the lengths any parent would go to in order to protect their child. Our own children are gone forever, but we can make sure no one else has to experience this unfathomable loss. We are asking you to protect the children of this country by dropping your opposition to KOSA.

Sincerely,

Julianna Arnold
Parent to Coco, forever age 17 

Joann Bogard
Parent to Mason, forever age 15 

Kristin Bride
Parent to Carson, forever age 16 

Jeff Van Lith
Parent to Ethan, forever age 13 

Christine McComas
Parent to Grace, forever age 15 

Annie McGrath
Parent to Griffin, forever age 13 

Todd and Mia Minor 
Parent to Matthew, forever age 12 

Maurine Molak
Parent to David, forever age 16

Amy Neville
Parent to Alexander, forever age 14

Bridgette Norring
Parent to Devin, forever age 19 

Erin Popolo
Parent to Emily, forever age 17

Mary Rodee
Parent to Riley, forever age 15

Judith Rogg
Parent to Erik, forever age 12 

Deb and Stu Schmill
Parents to Becca, forever age 18 

Avery and Lori Schott
Parents to Annalee, forever age 18 

Michelle Servi
Parent to Jack, forever age 16

Sharon Winkler
Parent to Alexander, forever age 17