Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., told Newsmax on Wednesday that he's "very confident" that Congress will pass the Kids Online Safety Act despite concerns about how the bill would regulate speech online.
The legislation would increase regulations on features used by social media and technology companies that are available to children. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said this week that the House might wait to vote on the legislation until after the next Congress is sworn in next month.
"When you're … dealing with the regulation of free speech, you can't go too far and it be overbroad, but you want to achieve those objectives," Johnson told reporters. "So it's essential that we get this issue right."
Carter said on "Wake Up America" that he believes the bill will pass.
"This is something we've got to do," he said.
Carter added that "we're allowing these [social media] platforms to really influence our children," noting that "93% of teenagers are on social media, and the influence that it's having on them is significant."
"I agree with the speaker, we have to make sure we're protecting free speech, but at the same time we need to make sure that we are holding these platforms accountable, that we need to make sure that parents are in charge, not [Facebook CEO] Mark Zuckerberg," Carter said.
Carter was asked about free-speech concerns with the legislation.
"I do share the same concerns, all of us want free speech … I don't think you'll find anyone up here who is opposed to it, but at the same time, we've got there is a balance and there is a fine line," he said. "But it can be done and it needs to be done. It has to be done. Children are suffering."