U.S. Senator Katie Britt Joins Senators Jon Husted, Mark Warner for Bipartisan Podcast on Sammy’s Law, Protecting Children Online

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Senators Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) for a discussion hosted by Senator Husted on their bipartisan bill, Sammy's Law. The legislation would empower parents to protect their children on social media by giving them the ability to know whether their children are engaging in dangerous or risky interactions.

Sammy's Law was named after 16-year-old Sammy Chapman who lost his life to fentanyl poisoning. He was approached by a drug dealer through social media, who delivered drugs laced with a lethal dose of opioid fentanyl to his home. Sammy was unaware he was ingesting fentanyl and tragically lost his life.

Sam Chapman, Sammy's father, joined the senators to discuss his son's story and his support for Sammy's Law. He is a leading advocate for protecting children online and giving parents the resources they need to do so.

"I often say you don't have to tell me what it's like to raise teenagers in today's digital age because I'm actually doing it, which is why I'm committed to advancing legislation that will help prevent tragedies like Sammy's from happening," said Senator Britt. "It was a privilege joining Senators Husted and Warner to discuss the need to pass Sammy's Law. Hearing directly from Sammy's father, Sam Chapman, further underscored the critical work Congress has ahead of us to better protect our children online."

"Sammy's story is a tragic one, and it is unfortunately one that has happened too many times across our country. As a father and grandfather, I strongly believe that we need to protect our kids in the digital world the same way we do in the physical world. As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to take action against online threats and predators. We'll keep working in a bipartisan fashion to get Sammy's Law across the finish line in the U.S. Senate," said Senator Husted.

"As a father, I know how challenging it is for parents to protect their kids from the harmful effects of social media, where children are more exposed than ever to cyberbullying, eating disorders, and other online threats to their wellbeing. Sammy Chapman should still be with us today, and it's our responsibility as lawmakers to protect other children and families from experiencing a similar loss. Sammy's Law will give parents the choice to be alerted of concerning behaviors on social media, while protecting their personal information. I will continue fighting to get this bipartisan effort passed, so parents have more resources to supervise their children's social media use," said Senator Warner.

"If Sammy's Law had been in place when Sammy was alive, he'd still be here today. So, for the ones who were left behind, what you all are doing can be lifesaving," said Sam Chapman.

Representatives Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-Fla.) are leading this effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.

To view the full podcast episode, click here.

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