WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a hearing titled The World Wild Web: Examining Harms Online.

“Our increasingly digital world continually presents new threats and challenges, especially to our children. I remain focused on addressing the clear risks facing the most vulnerable and want to ensure they are not being exploited by bad actors online,” said Chairman Bilirakis. “Today, we held an important discussion that I hope will be an important beginning to developing bipartisan consensus around legislation to protect Americans, including our children, from threats in the online world. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this urgent priority across the finish line.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Congressman Rus Fulcher (ID-01): “Mr. Chairman, I have to admit I might be a little bit confused if I’m in the right committee hearing. We’ve somehow seemed to have got sidetracked into a presidential branch personnel discussions and food prices, so I do have some questions, but they have to do with kids online safety and, uh, and, and that subject matter. Am I in the right place? Do I have that subject matter correct?” Chairman Bilirakis: “Correct.”

Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03): “Today’s hearing, the ‘World Wild Web, Examining Harms Online’ could not be more timely. From exploitation to manipulation, we know that the internet has become a breeding ground for serious threats, especially to those most vulnerable – our kids. I want to begin by personally apologizing to the parents and the guests here in the committee room today for the behavior of some of my colleagues. We’re here to focus on kids and the issue at hand, not play liberal catchphrase, talk about food prices, or talk about billionaires. Anything that deviates from that is politically motivated and it is disgusting. And I am so sorry that you are in this room, championing this issue because you have had an experienced tragedy in your family. I am so very sorry.”

Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “There is a reason why Democrats are viewed by the American people at an all-time low. It’s because they can’t keep the main thing, the main thing. We are here today, to be clear, 100%. Everyone knew the assignment when we got into this hearing room ahead of time. We are here to talk about children’s safety online. And all I hear from the other side is rantings and ravings about the FTC. If you want to talk about the FTC, go do a one-minute speech on the House floor. You want to talk about the FTC, have a press conference. Here, we are here to talk about children. But they can’t seem to get it, and that’s why they’re viewed deeply unpopular by the American people right now. In fact, the witness from the FTC spent 4 of her 5 minutes talking about how she was fired and not the actual subject why we’re here. So that’s frustrating to me, that there’s broad bipartisan consensus on a lot of this stuff, and we’re here to examine that on ways that we can advance sensible policy.”

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