Blackburn to address internet safety, taxes, and TikTok during next term
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) was sworn in to the 119th Congress by Supreme Court Justice Amy Comey Barrett after Blackburn defeated Democrat challenger Gloria Johnson and three others on the ballot.
Following the swearing in ceremony, Blackburn addressed some of her priorities for her next term which include securing the border, making tax cuts permanent, seeking the divestment of TikTok, and providing additional internet protection for children.
“Protecting children and having laws that protect children is not a violation of free speech,” said Blackburn.
Blackburn has taken aim at social media companies with legislation, including the 2024 bill she co-sponsored that would force companies to take additional steps to protection children from harm such as extortion, promotion of eating disorders, bullying, and promotion of suicide. She said she would continue to pursue the passage of this law during the next term.
She said she also intends to continue working to hold big tech companies online accountable. The legislation would “also have a toolbox so parents can adjust those algorithms.”
In addition to online safety for children, Blackburn said she will work to increase border security. The senator said her intent is to “fight against all this human trafficking and drug trafficking” at the border. Some of the ways she plans to achieve decreased trafficking and increased border security is by working for stronger penalties for those indicted for any form of trafficking (human or drugs) and ensure they receive no federal benefits of any type if they are indicted for trafficking.
Blackburn also stated she would like to see the divestment of TikTok. “My hope is that you’re going to see the law stand and TikTok will have to come under American guidance and TikTok will have to go through that divestment process as is articulated in the law and people continue to refer to it as a ban. It is a divestment,” she said. “The data of U.S. users is not kept in the United States. It is not kept in Singapore. It is housed in Beijing.” Blackburn said this poses a danger to America because “the way that app operates it can move into other apps so they have visibility into your transactional life. This is why Congress sees this as a spy apparatus. This is why Congress has chosen to push for that divestment.”
Another priority for Blackburn in this next term is to get federal employees back to physically working in offices and move federal agencies outside of Washington D.C. She said she intends to get a “return to work policy” and a creating a merit based system of pay for federal employees.
She said the “return to work policy” would address the many federal employees not working in offices. “Right now, 10 percent of federal employees are working full time in the office,” according to the senator. Blackburn said she is wanting that to change during her next term.
Additionally, Blackburn said one of her top priorities is to ensuring President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees are confirmed. “As we look at priorities for the next two years, we know getting President Trump’s nominees confirmed is a priority.”
She said she will also be working to push Trump’s tax cuts through Congress, providing additional medical care access for veterans, and ensuring the military has its needs met. “The American people sent a mandate in November,” said Blackburn. “They want to see action.”
