House Democrats block legislation labeling smart toys from defense bill
Christopher Hutton
Video Embed
House Democrats blocked legislation to inform consumers if their children’s smart toys have surveillance devices from being included in a bipartisan defense spending bill.
Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act was dropped from the National Defense Authorization Act unveiled late Wednesday. Cruz’s bill, which he introduced in partnership with Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA), would require manufacturers to label products that have cameras or microphones.
PENTAGON UNSATISFIED WITH TUBERVILLE LIFTING OF MOST HOLDS ON DOD NOMINEES
While the Senate version of the NDAA passed with the Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act included as a provision, it was blocked by House Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) during negotiations between the two legislative bodies, an aide familiar with the negotiations told the Washington Examiner.
Jeffries and Pallone’s offices did not respond to requests for comment.
Cruz went to the floor in July to request unanimous consent for the act’s passage, only to receive objection from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The House version of the bill passed in February, 406-12.
“Smart toys,” or toys with microphones, cameras, or other trackers, have regularly increased in sales year over year, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund’s “Trouble in Toyland” report. The global market for these toys grew from $14.1 billion in 2022 to $16.7 billion in 2023, according to PIRG.