Alabama Sen. Katie Britt has proposed new legislation that would seek to make beachgoers aware of shark attacks in the same way people receive AMBER Alerts and extreme weather warnings.
The proposed law is named in honor of Alabama teenager Lulu Gribbin, who survived a shark attack in June.
The Context
Britt is a Republican politician who has been serving as Alabama's junior senator since January 3, 2023. She is the youngest woman representing the Republicans in the U.S. Senate.
Britt has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who boosted her campaign for the Senate in 2022.
In March, she was widely mocked for her response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address.
Fifteen-year-old Gribbin, from Mountain Brook, Alabama, lost part of her arm and leg in a shark attack on Florida's Gulf Coast. Her friend, McCray Faust, was also injured in the incident, which occurred just 90 minutes after another shark attack nearby. Gribbin's parents believe that the second attack could have been prevented if an alert system had been in place.
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File, there were 120 alleged shark-human interactions worldwide in 2023.
The file detailed that there were more shark bites than average in 2023, with 36 occurring in the U.S., two of which were fatal.
What We Know
The legislation, officially titled Lulu's Law, aims to incorporate shark attacks into the existing framework for WEAs managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to a statement released by Britt. This system currently issues alerts for severe weather, amber alerts, and other emergencies. The proposed law would expand the scope to include shark attacks, thus allowing local, state, tribal, and federal authorities to issue immediate warnings.
"We are eternally grateful that Lulu survived the shark attack on June 7. Lulu is a fighter. We will get through this, and she will adapt to her new lifestyle, Lulu's parents Ann Blair and Joe Gribben said in a statement.
"This was the second attack that day in close proximity, and it could have been prevented with a better alert system. That's why Lulu's Law is so important. We're grateful to Senator Britt for introducing this legislation, and we encourage Congress to pass it for families like ours who just want to keep our children safe," they added.
"Having two teenagers myself, this hits close to home. I cannot imagine what this journey has been like for Lulu or for her parents," said Britt.
"Lulu's Law would empower authorities to quickly and accurately put information in the hands of beach goers to help 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."
Britt also paid tribute to Lulu's "faith, courage and strength."
Newsweek has reached out to Senator Britt's office via email for comment.
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Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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