WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statements after the Committee approved multiple bills with strong bipartisan support: Kids Off Social Media Act, AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, TORNADO Act, and the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act. These measures will now proceed to the full Senate for consideration.

In one of his first moves as the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sen. Cruz, alongside Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), reintroduced the Kids Off Social Media Act, bipartisan legislation to keep kids off social media and help protect them from its harmful impacts. The legislation would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms, prevent social media companies from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17, and require taxpayer-funded devices in schools to extend existing firewalls to cover social media sites.

Sen. Cruz worked on several pieces of legislation that will benefit Texans, specifically the bipartisan Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, which would safeguard the livelihoods of Texas fishermen and consumers by targeting illegally caught red snapper.

Additionally, Sen. Cruz was the lead Republican sponsor of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and cosponsored the Tornado Observation Research Notification and Deployment to Operations (TORNADO) Act and Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act.

KIDS OFF SOCIAL MEDIA ACT

Sen. Cruz led the introduction of Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), alongside Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.), which helps protect kids from the harmful impacts of social media. It would set a minimum age to use social media platforms at 13 and prevent social media companies from using algorithms to feed addictive content to users under the age of 17. Additionally, the bill would stop taxpayers from funding tools that allow kids to doomscroll in their classrooms by blocking social media and other harmful content on federally-funded school networks and devices.

In addition to Sens. Cruz, Schatz, Murphy, and Britt, KOSMA is cosponsored by Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.)., Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and John Curtis (R-Utah).

Upon the introduction of the Kids Off Social Media Act, Sen. Cruz said:

“Every parent I know is concerned about the online threats to kids—from predators to videos promoting self-harm, risky behavior, or low self-esteem. Many families have suffered due to Big Tech’s failure to take responsibility for its products. The Kids Off Social Media Act addresses these issues by supporting families in crisis and empowering teachers to better manage their classrooms. I am proud to work with Senator Schatz on this bipartisan legislation to combat the harms social media poses to children, especially in schools. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I am confident we can swiftly move this legislation and similar measures through committee and urge Congress to heed the calls of parents everywhere by delivering this bill to President Trump's desk to help protect America’s youth.”

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act

In Texas, over 88,000 jobs are tied to radio and, as of 2018, over one million American jobs were tied to local radio. Sens. Cruz and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) led 41 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan AM for Every Vehicle Act to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in vehicles at no additional cost to consumers. AM radio serves as the most reliable and effective form of communication during emergencies and protects free expression and viewpoint diversity.

The bill is cosponsored by 29 Republicans, 14 Democrats, and 2 Independents.

Upon the passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, Sen. Cruz said:

“During weather disasters or power outages, AM radio is consistently the most reliable form of communication and is critical to keep millions of Texans safe. AM radio has long been a haven for people to express differing viewpoints, allowing free speech and our robust democratic process to flourish for decades. I am honored to once again partner with Sen. Markey on this bipartisan legislation on behalf of our constituents who depend on AM radio and public airwaves for access to news, music, talk, and emergency alerts.”

Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act

The Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, introduced by Sen. Cruz along with Sens. Schatz, Britt, and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper and tuna imported into the United States.

Technology exists to chemically test and find the geographic origin of many foods, but not for red snapper or tuna. The legislation aims to develop a field test kit that can be used to accurately ascertain whether fish were caught in U.S. or foreign waters, thus allowing federal and state law enforcement officers to identify the origin of the fish and confiscate illegally caught red snapper and tuna before it is imported back into the U.S.

Upon the introduction of the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, Sen. Cruz said:

“Cartels and other criminal entities are illegally catching, importing, and selling red snapper and tuna to unwitting consumers then using such profits to fund other illicit activities like drug smuggling and human trafficking. I am glad to join my colleagues in introducing this common-sense, bipartisan legislation to support U.S. fishermen, and I am hopeful Congress will act quickly to stop these dangerous criminal gangs.”

TORNADO Act

Texans have been devastated by tornadoes and other hazardous weather events, so the TORNADO Act, introduced by Sens. Cruz, Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.), would improve forecasting abilities by directing NOAA to coordinate with appropriate entities when conducting post-storm assessments and update its communication methods to better inform residents about severe weather.

Upon the introduction of the TORNADO Act, Sen. Cruz said:

“When a tornado strikes, the most important action we can take is to ensure residents receive ample warning of the incoming storm so they can get to safety. The TORNADO Act is a simple yet crucial piece of legislation that will improve forecasts and communicate the risks of impending tornadoes to help keep those in the path of these devastating storms out of danger.”

Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act

Traveling families have reported instances of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) delaying their screening or prohibiting baby formula, breast milk, purified deionized water for infants through security checkpoints, despite these infant liquids’ exemption from TSA’s current 3-1-1 liquids restriction. Furthermore, families reported that TSA’s wipe-downs of bottles, pumps, or formula had contaminated such infant formula.

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act, introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and cosponsored by Sens. Cruz, Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), requires TSA to update its guidance and minimize the risk of contamination of covered infant liquids and related accessories to keep them cool during the security screening process.

Upon introduction of the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act, Sen. Cruz said: 

“Far too often, families traveling with infants and young children are subjected to inconsistencies when going through TSA’s screening, causing inconveniences that can make traveling together even more difficult. This simple legislation to update the TSA’s compliance guidance for the 3-1-1 liquids will help families travel without added hassles.”

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