WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee has introduced the Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act, a step toward safeguarding minors from the pervasive threat of online pornographic content. Sens. John Curtis (R-UT) and Jim Banks (R-IN) are cosponsors. Representative Mary Miller (R-IL) leads the companion bill in the House of Representatives.  

"It is time for our laws to catch up with technology,”  said Senator Mike Lee. “The SCREEN Act addresses the urgent need to protect minors from exposure to online pornography and stop those who profit from stealing the innocence of America's youth."

“As a mother of seven and grandmother to 20, I am committed to defending parental rights,” said Representative Mary Miller. I am proud to join Senator Mike Lee in introducing the SCREEN Act to the House, providing parents with more control over their children's online access and protecting our kids from exposure to pornography. I urge my colleagues in the House to act swiftly in adopting the SCREEN Act to protect American children.”

“Like any parent in Utah, I’m deeply concerned that children remain vulnerable to explicit content online, as well as the psychological and societal harm it brings,” said Senator Curtis. “Our bill ensures that online platforms take responsibility by leveraging modern technology to verify users’ ages and prevent minors from accessing explicit material—all while upholding personal freedoms.”

"Internet pornography has infected our culture and corroded the vulnerable minds of America’s kids, with the average age of initial exposure being 12 years old. That’s appalling,” said Senator Banks. “The accessibility of commercial pornography calls for the implementation of commonsense guardrails to protect our children. Indiana passed an age verification bill last year, paving the way for the rest of the nation. Our bill combats—with federal legislation—the forces attempting to poison the young minds of America."

Despite Congress's ongoing efforts over the past three decades to shield children from online pornography, prior legislative measures have been challenged and overturned by the Supreme Court on the grounds of not meeting the least restrictive means test. Nonetheless, the Court acknowledged the government's compelling interest to protect children.

Advancements in technology since the Supreme Court last addressed this matter reveal a stark reality: traditional methods like blocking and filtering software have fallen short, leaving an alarming 80% of teenagers exposed to online pornography. The repercussions on minors are profound, contributing to a spectrum of psychological issues, unhealthy sexual behaviors, and broader societal harms.

Senator Lee's SCREEN Act is a necessary evolution of the law, aligning technological progress with the government's duty to protect children. The Act mandates commercial pornographic websites to implement robust age verification technologies, providing a pragmatic and narrowly tailored solution to a complex problem.

The bill has garnered support from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, National Decency Coalition, Heritage Action, Ethics and Public Policy Center, American Principles Project, Family Policy Alliance, Institute for Family Studies, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Culture Reframed, Enough is Enough, Envoc, Foundation and Council on Pornography Reform, Eagle Forum, Eagle Forum of Alabama, and The Silent Addiction.

For bill text, click HERE. 

For a one-pager, click HERE.