Katie Britt Eyes Unanimous Consent for Shark Attack Bill
Katie Britt Eyes Unanimous Consent for Shark Attack Bill
Lulu's Law would require FEMA to add shark attacks to the national emergency alerts system.
Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) is optimistic about securing unanimous consent in the Senate to pass her new bipartisan bill, Lulu’s Law. The bill, named for Lulu Gribbin, would establish a nationwide alert system for shark attacks. Gribbin, a teenager from Britt’s home state of Alabama, lost a hand and leg in a shark attack 90 minutes after another woman was attacked just a few miles away.
FEMA manages the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System that Britt hopes will add shark attacks to their portfolio, which includes deploying alerts for missing children (“Amber Alerts”) and severe weather. In the House, Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) introduced companion legislation in where Lulu’s Law currently has seven co-sponsors.1
“How amazing would that be for Lulu to be able to go stand next to President Biden, as she is working to get back to full-strength, and be able to sign this in and prevent this for other people?” said Britt, excitedly.
Listen to my hallway interview with Britt —
“We’re working through it with the [Senate] Commerce Committee, working through it with Energy and Commerce on the House side, trying to come to a solution, because this, to me, is something we should be able to UC2 across, said Britt, adding that she has met with FEMA director Deanne Criswell to discuss the bill.
Tim Kaine (D-VA), the lone Democrat among five Senate co-sponsors, shared Britt's optimism.3 “I think a UC is very realistic,” he said, adding: “The whole problem is just what gets time on the floor … but something like that that’s truly non-controversial, I imagine it would be very possible.”
PABLO’S TAKE:
Britt’s optimism is warranted—a veteran operator in the upper chamber despite her freshman status, Britt served through four Congresses as a staffer to longtime Alabama Senator Richard Shelby (ret.), including as his chief of staff.
Plus the bill comes at no expense to taxpayers, which should make it easier for landlocked senators with an axe to grind, like Rand Paul (R-KY), to let it go through without a fuss.
Some coastal senators I asked about Lulu’s Law, like Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), said they were unaware of Lulu’s Law, but that it sounded interesting.
Aides for Senate Leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell expressed similar ambivalence about the obscure bill, but both would need to agree to consider Lulu’s Law for unanimous consent during the Lame Duck.
HOUSE CO-SPONSORS: Reps. Neal Dunn (R-FL), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Dale Strong (R-AL), Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Mike Rogers (R-AL), and Jerry Carl (R-AL).
SENATE CO-SPONSORS: Sens. Britt, Kaine, Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE).