Rep. Houchin Bills to Protect Children Online, Combat Scams Advance Subcommittee Markup

See how the bills will help if they become law.

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09) today announced that two of her bills reported favorably out of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. 

The Reducing Exploitative Social Media Exposure for Teens (RESET) Act, now known as Governing Underage Access and Requiring Data Consent in All Networks (GUARDIAN) Act establishes a verifiable and revocable parental consent framework for social media platforms.

Under the legislation, platforms would be prohibited from processing a child’s personal data without parental consent. Parents would also be able to revoke that consent at any time, with the child’s account closed and personal data deleted.

“Parents—not social media companies—should be in the driver’s seat when it comes to their children’s online lives,” said Rep Houchin. “The GUARDIAN Act, formerly the RESET Act, requires platforms to get verifiable consent from a parent before processing a child's personal data—and lets the parent withdraw that consent at any time. We have an opportunity to build on the bipartisan consensus this Committee and the House have already established, and I am proud to continue working with my colleagues to make the internet safer for our children.”

The Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act tackles an issue costing Americans about $15.9 billion last year. By placing responsibility of preventing scams with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DoJ), the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act proactively targets criminals engaging in fraud.

“Fraud is a massive and growing threat that costs Americans billions of dollars every year,” said Rep. Houchin. “The federal government has agencies working on different pieces of this problem, but criminals do not operate in silos. We need the federal government to share information, coordinate its efforts, and work directly with the companies on the front lines of identifying scams. The Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act gives this effort an owner and creates a coordinated strategy to better protect Americans.