U.S. Sens. Britt, Schatz; Rep. Palmer introduce Lulu’s Law in honor of brave Alabama teenager
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Legislation to send safety alerts following shark attacks gains support
Special to the News
U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), along with Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), on Wednesday reintroduced Lulu’s Law – bipartisan, bicameral legislation named in honor of 16-year-old Lulu Gribbin from Mountain Brook.
In June 2024, Lulu Gribbin endured nearly fatal injuries sustained when a shark attacked her and McCray Faust. Just 90 minutes earlier and a few miles away, another woman was also attacked by a shark.
“Last June, the unthinkable happened when Lulu suffered a devastating shark attack. When Lulu woke up, she said, ‘I made it,’ and since then, she has only continued to prove her resilience,” said Sen. Britt. “I’m incredibly proud of her faith, her courage and her strength – she truly personifies both grace and grit. Lulu’s Law would empower authorities to quickly and accurately put information in the hands of beachgoers to help keep them out of harm’s way. This is a commonsense measure aimed at keeping families safe – a cause that I know people can rally around, just like her local community, our great state and the entire nation have rallied around Lulu.”
Lulu’s Law directs the Federal Communication Commission to issue an order providing that shark attacks are events for which wireless emergency alerts, or WEAs, may be transmitted. This would empower authorized local, state, tribal, and federal government authorities to quickly deploy warnings via mobile phone alert messages to the public if a shark has attacked someone or if the conditions enhancing the possibility of a shark attack are present.
“Beach safety is a priority in Hawai‘i, where we rely on timely alerts to keep people safe from dangerous conditions in the water. Lulu’s Law is a smart, commonsense way to make sure that families have the information they need as soon as possible when a shark attack happens. This bipartisan legislation would improve public safety and help prevent future tragedies,” said Sen. Schatz.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency manages the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, or IPAWS, which sends out local alerts that provide authentic emergency information to the public. Other WEA alerts include warnings about extreme weather, amber alerts, wildfires, and more.
“We are eternally grateful that Lulu survived the shark attack almost one year ago; she is truly a miracle. Since the attack, she has adapted to her new lifestyle and has been an inspiration to so many. We firmly believe this accident could have been prevented with a better alert system. We’re grateful to Sen. Britt for continuing to advocate for Lulu’s Law, and we encourage Congress to pass it for families like ours who just want to keep our children safe,” said Ann Blair and Joe Gribbin, Lulu’s parents.
Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) are also cosponsors of Lulu’s Law.
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), who introduced this legislation in the 118th Congress, again introduced Lulu’s Law in the U.S. House of Representatives this Congress.
“Lulu Gribbin’s strength and bravery throughout her recovery process has been inspiring not just to Alabamians, but to people across the nation. By passing Lulu’s Law, we would be creating a practical, commonsense solution to prevent future attacks from occurring and keeping beachgoers out of harm’s way. I am thankful for Sen. Britt’s leadership on this issue and look forward to seeing the positive impact this legislation will have once enacted,” said Palmer.
Last fall, AL.com published a column written by Dr. Ryan Forbess, a family medicine physician, calling for the enactment of Lulu’s Law.
“With Sen. Britt’s bill we can prevent other kids, families and adults from facing the terror that Lulu was forced to endure. We must get Lulu’s Law across the finish line. Congress must enact Sen. Britt’s bill and get it signed into law,” he stated in the piece.
