U.S. Senator Katie Britt Calls for Bipartisan Action to Address America’s Mental Health Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 19, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor alongside Senator George Helmy (D-N.J.) calling for bipartisanship to address America’s mental health crisis and the catalytic role of social media. Senator Helmy, soon after being sworn in as a Senator, came to Senator Britt asking to work together on this effort. He has since signed onto the Stop the Scroll Act, which was introduced by Senators Britt and John Fetterman (D-Pa.).
On the floor today, Senators Britt and Helmy underscored the urgent need to better protect children online, empower parents, hold social media platforms accountable, and work across the aisle to achieve meaningful change.
Excerpts of Senator Britt’s remarks are below, and her full remarks can be viewed here:
“ . . . I think it’s important for our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together and understand just how pressing America’s mental health crisis really is. I was honored when Senator Helmy came to me right after being sworn in and told me that he wanted to work together on mental health issues and social media.”
“Social media usage became pervasive among America’s kids. And the numbers back it up. If you look: 54 percent of teenagers said it [would be] ‘hard’ (or ‘somewhat hard’) to give up social media; half say that they’re ‘addicted’ to their phones, that was in a 2016 survey, (I) can’t imagine what it would say today; 35 percent say that they are ‘almost constantly’ on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook . . . Almost all of America’s teens have access to a smartphone. This near-constant use of social media platforms has consequences.”
“I want to mention one other piece of (bipartisan) legislation . . . and that is my work with Senator John Fetterman . . . [T]he Stop the Scroll Act, would require a warning label when people open up a social media platform, almost like a pop-up, that would also (be required to) include links to mental health resources. We want to ensure that resources are at the fingertips of those who need it most . . .”
“I also have faith we can do right by America’s kids. Here we have two people who are quite far apart on several issues, but who were able to come together to address an urgent problem. And with the Stop the Scroll Act, we have a small bill that can make a big difference … I’m proud to have worked with him on this critical topic, and I’m proud to have served with him in the Senate. Thank you, Senator Helmy.”
Senator Helmy thanked Senator Britt for her efforts stating, “. . . I applaud your leadership, and while I appreciate you mentioning that I wanted us to come together, I would just make a point that all of the bills you have mentioned have one thing in common. Not only the general thematic, but they are bipartisan. I think what that says . . . it’s a tribute to your leadership, your thoughtfulness, and your doggedness on this issue . . .”
Background on Senator Britt’s Social Media Safety Efforts:
Senator Britt, since taking office, has been committed to addressing the challenges and dangers posed by social media. In May, she joined Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), each a parent of school-aged children, in introducing the Kids Off Social Media Act. Additionally, Senator Britt is a cosponsor of Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal’s (D-Conn.) Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
In September, Senator Britt joined Senator Fetterman, in introducing the Stop the Scroll Act, which would create a mental health warning label requirement for social media platforms to ensure all users are aware of the potential mental health risks posed by social media usage and are provided access to mental health resources. The Senator led this bipartisan legislation in response to Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy recently calling for a warning label be placed on social media platforms.
With Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Senator Britt introduced the Youth Mental Health Research Act, which would create a national Youth Mental Health Research Initiative to guide long-term mental health care efforts and better target preventive interventions for those at risk of developing mental health challenges.
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