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Reps. Auchincloss and Houchin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Set National Social Media Age Limit at 16

Reps. Auchincloss and Houchin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Set National Social Media Age Limit at 16

Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) and Erin Houchin (R-IN) have introduced the '16 & Up Social Media Act,' a bipartisan bill aimed at establishing a national minimum age of 16 for social media accounts. This proposed legislation targets platforms that utilize engagement-driven features such as infinite scroll and personalized feeds, which the lawmakers and expert Jonathan Haidt describe as 'addictive design.' The bill would prohibit users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on these covered platforms. It explicitly states that it would not regulate content but would mandate the deletion of children's data upon account termination. The initiative seeks to provide parents with a clearer age limit and stronger enforcement mechanisms regarding their children's social media use.

Congresswoman Houchin Introduces Bipartisan '16 Up Social Media Act' to Establish National Age Standard

Congresswoman Houchin Introduces Bipartisan '16 Up Social Media Act' to Establish National Age Standard

Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-IN-09) and Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04) have jointly introduced the '16 & Up Social Media Act.' This bipartisan legislation aims to set a national age standard of 16 for social media platforms, prohibiting individuals under this age from creating or maintaining accounts. The bill specifically targets platforms that utilize engagement-driven design features, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push alerts, and personalized feeds, which are engineered to capture and retain user attention. According to Rep. Houchin, the legislation is a response to the addictive nature of these platforms, particularly for children, and seeks to provide a clear guideline for both platforms and parents. The act also mandates the deletion of children's data upon account termination and requires platforms to establish a five-day appeals process for account closures, focusing on design features rather than content regulation.

Representative Vince Fong Proposes Amendment to Limit Rideshare Company Liability

Representative Vince Fong Proposes Amendment to Limit Rideshare Company Liability

Representative Vince Fong of California has proposed an amendment to H.R. 8870, the BUILD America 250 Act, which seeks to significantly alter the liability standards for rideshare companies. This amendment, introduced during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup, would preempt state-law doctrines that currently allow injured individuals to hold rideshare companies directly responsible for incidents. Instead, victims would face a much higher legal bar, needing to demonstrate gross negligence or criminal wrongdoing by the company itself. The amendment is designed to apply to lawsuits filed on or after its enactment date, regardless of when the harm occurred, potentially affecting cases where injuries happened before the bill's passage but lawsuits have not yet been filed. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the bill, including Fong's amendment, by a 62-2 vote on May 22, 2026. As of September 14, 2026, the bill awaits action by the full House and has not yet pas...

U.S. Representative Don Beyer Joins Lawmakers in Opposing Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026

U.S. Representative Don Beyer Joins Lawmakers in Opposing Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), alongside Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and Richard Neal (D-Mass.), has issued a joint statement opposing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The three lawmakers, who hold ranking Democratic positions on key congressional committees, argue that the bill's expanded tariff authorities and its failure to mandate sanctions on Russia are 'unacceptable.' They have called for 'bicameral, bipartisan negotiations' to address their concerns. The legislation, initially introduced in April 2025, gained momentum after President Trump signaled his support last November, contingent on obtaining new tariff authorities and retaining flexibility over sanctions. The bill passed the Senate on August 7 with bipartisan support (86-11) and is now slated for consideration by the House of Representatives, with the Rules Committee scheduling a meeting to clear the way for a floor vote.

US NTSB says one-third of FAA answers to safety recommendations are 'unacceptable'

US NTSB says one-third of FAA answers to safety recommendations are 'unacceptable'

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The U.S.

Representative Chuck Edwards Sponsors Bill to Penalize Hospitals for Patient Safety Failures

Representative Chuck Edwards Sponsors Bill to Penalize Hospitals for Patient Safety Failures

Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11) has sponsored H.R. 10311, a bill aimed at amending Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. This proposed legislation seeks to establish a civil monetary penalty for hospitals that fail to comply with specific requirements, particularly when such non-compliance immediately jeopardizes the health or safety of patients. The bill has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for consideration. This initiative highlights a legislative focus on accountability within the healthcare system, specifically targeting instances where hospital operations directly impact patient well-being. The introduction of this bill comes amidst broader discussions in Congress regarding healthcare oversight and patient protection measures.

Senator Rick Scott Urges Congress to Pass SAFE KIDS Act to Combat Birth Tourism

Senator Rick Scott Urges Congress to Pass SAFE KIDS Act to Combat Birth Tourism

U.S. Senator Rick Scott is calling on Congress to pass his proposed legislation, the SAFE KIDS Act, aimed at preventing birth tourism and addressing the exploitation of America's immigration laws by foreign adversaries, including Communist China. Senator Scott highlighted the urgency of this bill by referencing a specific case in St. Augustine, Florida, where children are in legal limbo due to an uncollected surrogacy arrangement involving a Chinese national who has never entered the U.S. He also noted an upcoming hearing by the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses, which will focus on suspected birth tourism abuses in the Miami area. Scott emphasized that current businesses in Florida appear to be structured around exploiting the immigration system, underscoring the need for legislative action to protect vulnerable individuals from being trafficked and treated as commodities. He urged his Senate colleagues to p...

Congressman Meuser Introduces Legislation to Expand Housing Assistance for Homeless Veterans

Congressman Meuser Introduces Legislation to Expand Housing Assistance for Homeless Veterans

Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) has introduced H.R. 10168, the Veterans Housing Opportunity Act, aimed at increasing housing assistance for veterans who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. This legislation proposes a five-year pilot program within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program's core function is to identify underutilized HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) rental assistance funding and reallocate it to areas with higher demand for veteran housing. The HUD-VASH program currently combines HUD rental assistance with VA case management and supportive services to help veterans secure and maintain stable housing. However, its effectiveness is limited by HUD's inability to reallocate unused vouchers to communities where the need is greatest. Congressman Meuser collaborated with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in drafting this legislation, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing housing opportunities for veterans, first responders, and Gold S...

Representative Sanford Bishop Co-Sponsors Resolution to Close 13th Amendment Slavery Loophole

Representative Sanford Bishop Co-Sponsors Resolution to Close 13th Amendment Slavery Loophole

U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop Jr. (GA-02) is a co-sponsor of the bicameral 'End the Exception Amendment,' a resolution aimed at striking the 'Slavery Clause' from the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This clause currently permits slavery 'as a punishment for crime.' The resolution was reintroduced by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), U.S. Representative Nikema Williams (GA-05), and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). Proponents argue that this loophole has historically allowed for forced labor, particularly impacting Black Americans, through practices like 'Black Codes' enacted after 1865. These codes led to mass arrests for minor offenses, with imprisoned individuals then leased out for labor, sometimes on the same plantations where they had been enslaved. By 1898, 73% of Alabama's state revenue reportedly came from such forced labor. The resolution seeks to eliminate this exception, ensuring a complete ban on slavery without any qualifications.

Rep. Mike Flood Calls for Federal AI Safeguards to Prevent Misuse

Rep. Mike Flood Calls for Federal AI Safeguards to Prevent Misuse

U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, a Republican from Nebraska, has urged the federal government to implement safeguards for artificial intelligence (AI) technology. According to The Hill, Rep. Flood emphasized the need to "get on top of it" to prevent AI from falling into the wrong hands. His call highlights growing concerns among lawmakers regarding the potential risks associated with advanced AI systems and the necessity for proactive measures to mitigate these dangers. This statement reflects a broader sentiment within Congress about the rapid development of AI and the imperative for regulatory frameworks to ensure its responsible deployment.

Representative Shontel Brown Co-Introduces The Refresh Act to Support School Personnel Wellness Programs

Representative Shontel Brown Co-Introduces The Refresh Act to Support School Personnel Wellness Programs

Representative Shontel Brown, a Democrat representing Ohio's 11th congressional district, has co-introduced H.R.8676, known as The Refresh Act. This legislative initiative aims to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The primary goal of The Refresh Act is to establish a grant program that would provide funding to state educational agencies. These agencies would then use the grants to implement comprehensive wellness programs specifically designed for school personnel. The proposed act seeks to address the well-being of educators and other staff within the school system, recognizing the critical role they play in student success and the challenges they often face. The introduction of this bill highlights a growing focus on mental health and support systems within the educational sector.

Representative John Joyce Co-Introduces SECURE 340B Act to Address Drug Discount Program Concerns

Representative John Joyce Co-Introduces SECURE 340B Act to Address Drug Discount Program Concerns

U.S. Representative John Joyce from Pennsylvania, alongside Representative Scott Peters, has introduced the SECURE 340B Act. This legislative effort aims to bring greater transparency and oversight to the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The program, established in 1992, requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to eligible healthcare organizations and pharmacies at significantly reduced prices. The SECURE 340B Act seeks to address concerns regarding the program's rapid growth and the reported $100 billion in annual 340B purchases. The legislation is designed to ensure that the discounts provided through the program are directly benefiting vulnerable patients, as originally intended. It also looks to clarify the roles and responsibilities of various entities involved in the 340B program, including covered entities, contract pharmacies, and drug manufacturers, to prevent potential abuses and ensure compliance with federal guidelines. The introduction of this act signals a bipartisan effort...