Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz committed Tuesday to putting a kids online safety proposal from Sen. Marsha Blackburn on the agenda for his upcoming markup on artificial intelligence legislation — even as President Donald Trump holds off on giving the forthcoming bill his stamp of approval.
The Texas Republican also told reporters he “would expect to support” his colleague’s bill, but cast doubt on whether it could pass the full Senate.
“It’s not clear to me at all that there are 60 votes for it,” Cruz continued, “but I am happy to have a markup and see where the votes are.”
A spokesperson for Blackburn did not respond to a request for comment on her plans, but the Tennessee Republican in a statement Monday night pledged to continue building consensus to be able to move her legislation “by the end of the year.”
It comes after Cruz and Blackburn met with Trump in the Oval office Monday afternoon, where Blackburn presented some details of her yet-to-be-introduced package that is likely to pair her signature legislation, the Kids Online Safety Act, with some provisions pre-empting state AI laws — a bid to win the endorsement of the Trump administration.
Blackburn’s package also could include the NO FAKES Act — which would create new restrictions on AI deepfakes — and the Apps Store Accountability Act — which would require minors to obtain parental consent before downloading apps — according to a person granted anonymity to share private negotiations.
In that White House meeting, Cruz doubted the fate of the package in the Senate, the person said, and Trump did not make a commitment to give it his blessing.
It’s not also clear whether Blackburn will try to introduce a version of her bill in time for its consideration at the Senate Commerce markup tentatively scheduled for July 29. Per committee rules, Cruz must publish an advisory for any markup a week in advance — in this case Wednesday, assuming the late-July date holds — though changes to the lineup can be made the day-of.
As of Tuesday afternoon, staff for Commerce Committee Democrats said they hadn’t seen the final agenda but noted a lot can change in 24 hours. Republicans on the panel also said they have been largely in the dark: Sen. John Curtis of Utah, who recently introduced a bipartisan bill cracking down on AI chatbots that would go further than a similar proposal from Cruz, said he had not spoken to the chair nor did he have a sense of what might be on the agenda.
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), another member of the Commerce Committee who works closely on AI legislation, also said he had not heard what’s on the agenda.
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