Washington (December 11, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement today after the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee voted to advance the House version of the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) by a partisan vote.

“Today's partisan vote on COPPA 2.0 is further evidence that House Republicans have unnecessarily set back a multi-year, bipartisan process to protect children and teens online,” said Senator Markey. “This weakening of COPPA 2.0 on behalf of Big Tech is unacceptable. I urge House Republicans to return to the strong, bipartisan language in the Senate bill, and I stand ready to work with them to enact strong online privacy protections for our young people.”

Senator Markey is leading the charge to protect children and teens online. On December 3, Senator Markey released astatement disapproving the House’s introduction of a version of COPPA 2.0 that would strip states of essential tools to safeguard children and teens online. Senator Markey reintroduced COPPA 2.0 in the Senate in March 2025. In June 2025, COPPA 2.0 passed unanimously through the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

###