Chair says committee will press ahead on child online-protection bills after bipartisan talks stall

The chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce opened the session by saying bipartisan negotiations over a package of bills to protect children online were unsuccessful but that the committee must act.

He described online harms as “complex” and “immense,” saying children are "being targeted, groomed, harassed and exploited" and that online algorithms can amplify addictive, harmful material. The chair said committee staff and members spent "more than 40 hours" negotiating drafts, redlines and counterproposals but were unable to reach a bipartisan agreement.

"The absence of a bipartisan consensus cannot be an excuse for inaction," the chair said, adding that "the time is now" to take steps to empower parents and protect children and teens online. He framed the work as a responsibility to constituents and to children facing online threats.

The chair did not announce a specific vote or final text during his opening statement. He said the bills reflect efforts to give parents more tools and to address algorithmic amplification and online predation, but the transcript excerpt does not include detailed provisions, bill numbers, or a timetable for committee action.

The session moved next to related Energy Subcommittee items on grid cybersecurity; the chair then acknowledged ranking members and yielded to the ranking member of the full committee. The committee's next procedural steps for the child-protection package were not specified in the provided transcript excerpt.