General
Letter to the U.S. House of Representatives on the Kids Online Safety Act (March 5, 2026)
March 5, 2026
The Honorable Brett Guthrie
Chairman
Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Gus Bilirakis
Chairman
Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Frank Pallone
Ranking Member
Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Jan Schakowsky
Ranking Member
Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
U.S, House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis and Ranking Members Pallone and Schakowsky:
We write today on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Communications and the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, to address the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), H.R. 6484, which is now included within the broader legislative package, H.R. 7757, the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act. As noted in our letter to Congress in 2023 regarding the protection of children online, we have seen the growing risks children face, from exploitation, predatory behavior, and exposure to content that damages mental health, promotes immoral behavior, and distorts human dignity.
We appreciate the efforts of the committee's ongoing work to elevate the need for action and to advance legislation to address these daily threats our children experience. However, we are concerned with the omission of key provisions in KOSA that are at odds with the companion version (S. 1748), which the bishops endorsed in July 2025. We urge the Committee to address these concerns.
One particular concern is the Rule of Construction (Sec. 213) that would prohibit a “duty of care.” This provision, as written in S. 1748, means digital companies may not treat children merely as data points or revenue sources, but as vulnerable human beings with real needs and rights. As with any regulated industry that caters to children, it is incumbent upon developers to be proactive in the design of their products to prevent foreseeable harms. Each child is created in the image and likeness of God, deserving of love, protection, and the freedom to grow in a healthy and secure environment.
We are grateful the legislative package (H.R. 7757) now includes safeguards and measures such as control over personalized recommendation systems (opt-out and category limits), restrictions on geolocation sharing, and transparency reports. These tools empower parents and guardians to better oversee their children’s digital experiences, which reflects the Church’s deep conviction that the family is the fundamental social institution of society. S.1748 strengthens the essential bond between parent and child that so often is undermined in the digital age. We echo the comments made by our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, during a recent gathering at the Vatican where he affirms that “parents and educators [should] be aware of these dynamics, and that tools be developed to monitor and guide young people’s interactions with technology.”
Unlike S.1748, which allows states to innovate and enact stronger protections than the baseline set by federal law, H.R. 7757 includes a federal preemption of states’ own laws and regulations. Of all areas, protecting children is the last where the federal government should seek to limit states’ authority.
The Kids’ Online Safety Act, with essential safeguards included in S.1748, helps affirm our shared responsibility to ensure that the structures of society protect the most vulnerable. No child should be left unprotected in digital spaces where anonymity and algorithms often prioritize engagement over safety. Moreover, as emerging research reveals the significant impact of social media on the mental health of young people, we must act with urgency. Laws like KOSA are essential to confronting these threats and creating a digital culture that supports, rather than erodes, the well-being of children.
We are very grateful for your work on legislation to address this serious problem and encourage you to address these issues during the Committee’s markup.
Sincerely,
Most Reverend Edward J. Burns
Bishop of Dallas
Chairman, Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth
Most Reverend William D. Byrne
Bishop of Springfield
Chairman, Committee on Communications