The House Energy and Commerce Committee canceled a planned markup of 11 bills on Thursday, including federal online privacy legislation that has met with major pushback from the chamber’s Republican leadership.
Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers said Thursday that lawmakers would continue to pursue online privacy rights despite the setback for the privacy bill she co-authored.
“The American people are asking Congress to step up and pass a privacy bill. It is foundational to our future and the next generation,” the Washington Republican said in a statement.
“Today, I’m calling for all moms, dads and freedom-loving Americans to join me in this fight.”
Among the legislation previously scheduled to be considered were the American Privacy Rights Act of 2024 and the Kids Online Safety Act.
Leading House Republicans pressured Ms. Rodgers to delay the markup of the legislation, according to reports. Ms. Rodgers co-authored the push for a national privacy law, American Privacy Rights Act of 2024, and secured support from Sen. Maria Cantwell, Washington Democrat, who formerly helped to stop Ms. Rodgers’ previous federal privacy legislation from advancing.
The Kids Online Safety Act seeks to create a “duty of care” compelling social media platforms to mitigate risks of harm to children. Previous versions of the bill have failed to be passed by Congress in recent years.
Securing congressional approval of federal privacy legislation before the November elections appears to be a long shot, but the retiring Ms. Rodgers said she will continue her fight.
“For every parent, for individual liberty, and for the future of this country, we will continue our pursuit to give Americans privacy rights online,” she said.
But House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican, told The Hill newspaper this week he had heard “a lot of concerns” from GOP members about aspects of the bill.
Democrats on the committee had largely supported the bill and the push for a federal right to data privacy, and criticized the decision to call off Thursday’s markup session at the last minute.
“This is a dire problem that Congress needs to solve,” New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone, the committee’s ranking Democrat, said in a statement this week. “It is too important to the American people to not get this done. We’re not giving up.”
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.
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