CAMRA Act
Latest action (26 Feb 2019): Introduced
What this bill does
S. 558, the Children and Media Research Advancement Act (CAMRA Act), would amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Director of the National Institutes of Health to establish a research program studying how media and technology—including social media, television, video games, mobile devices, artificial intelligence, and virtual/augmented reality—affect the health and development of infants, children, and adolescents. The research would cover cognitive, physical, and social-emotional effects, including areas such as language development, sleep, diet, anxiety, and social skills, and would include long-term studies. NIH would develop a research agenda, fund studies through peer review, and report to Congress within one year on progress. The bill authorizes $15 million annually for fiscal years 2020–2022 and $25 million annually for 2023–2024.
The bill primarily affects NIH, which would gain new research responsibilities and funding authorization, as well as academic and scientific researchers who could receive grants. Indirectly, it addresses concerns of parents, educators, and health professionals interested in understanding technology's impact on youth.
The bill was introduced on February 26, 2019, by Senator Ed Markey with bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. It did not receive a vote and did not become law during the 116th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Children and Media Research Advancement Act or the CAMRA Act
This bill requires the National Institutes of Health to fund research regarding the effects of media on infants, children, and adolescents. Such research must examine the impact of media (e.g., social media, television, video games) on cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development.
Common questions
- What does S. 558 do?
- S. 558, the Children and Media Research Advancement Act (CAMRA Act), would amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Director of the National Institutes of Health to establish a research program studying how media and technology—including social media, television, video games, mobile devices, artificial intelligence, and virtual/augmented reality—affect the health and development of infants, children, and adolescents. The research would cover cognitive, physical, and social-emotional effects, including areas such as language development, sleep, diet, anxiety, and social skills, and would include long-term studies. NIH would develop a research agenda, fund studies through peer review, and report to Congress within one year on progress. The bill authorizes $15 million annually for fiscal years 2020–2022 and $25 million annually for 2023–2024. The bill primarily affects NIH, which would gain new research responsibilities and funding authorization, as well as academic and scientific researchers who could receive grants. Indirectly, it addresses concerns of parents, educators, and health professionals interested in understanding technology's impact on youth. The bill was introduced on February 26, 2019, by Senator Ed Markey with bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. It did not receive a vote and did not become law during the 116th Congress.
- Has S. 558 become law?
- Not yet. As of 26 Feb 2019, S. 558 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 558?
- S. 558 was sponsored by Sen. Edward “Ed” Markey [D-MA] (Democrat-MA), with 7 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 558?
- Introduced (26 Feb 2019).
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