WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), along with Representative Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), have reintroduced Lulu’s Law, a bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation aimed at improving public safety through enhanced emergency alert systems. The bill is named in honor of 16-year-old Lulu Gribbin from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who survived a near-fatal shark attack in June 2024.
Lulu Gribbin was severely injured when a shark attacked her and McCray Faust. Just 90 minutes prior, another woman was also attacked by a shark a few miles away. These incidents underscored the need for a more effective alert system to warn beachgoers of potential dangers.
Lulu’s Law would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to include shark attacks among the events eligible for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). This would allow authorized local, state, tribal, and federal agencies to quickly send notifications via mobile phone to alert the public of a shark attack or conditions that may increase the likelihood of one.
“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,” said Senator Britt. “This is a commonsense measure aimed at keeping families safe.”
Senator Schatz emphasized the importance of such alerts, particularly in coastal regions. “Beach safety is a priority in Hawai‘i, where we rely on timely alerts to keep people safe from dangerous conditions in the water,” he said. “This bipartisan legislation would improve public safety and help prevent future tragedies.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) currently manages the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), which issues WEAs for extreme weather events, amber alerts, and other emergencies. Lulu’s Law seeks to expand this system to include shark-related threats.
Lulu’s parents, Ann Blair and Joe Gribbin, expressed gratitude for the legislative effort. “We firmly believe this accident could have been prevented with a better alert system. We’re grateful to Senator 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,” they stated.
The bill has garnered support from multiple senators, including 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.). In the House, Congressman Palmer reintroduced the legislation, continuing his advocacy for improved safety measures.
“By passing Lulu’s Law, we would be creating a practical, commonsense solution to prevent future attacks and keep beachgoers out of harm’s way,” said Palmer. “Lulu Gribbin’s strength and bravery throughout her recovery process has been inspiring, and this legislation will help ensure that others are better protected in the future.”
Senator Britt recently spoke on the Senate floor, highlighting the urgency of the legislation. “When Lulu woke up from surgery and got taken off of her ventilator, her very first words were, ‘I made it.’ That has become a mantra in the way she has pushed forward after a long rehabilitation,” Britt said. “This tremendous battle that she’s fought and won could have been prevented in the first place. Let’s pass this law, let’s celebrate this amazing young woman, and let’s prevent this from happening again.”
The reintroduction of Lulu’s Law reflects a growing bipartisan effort to enhance public safety measures for coastal communities and visitors. Lawmakers continue to push for the bill’s passage, emphasizing its potential to improve emergency response capabilities and prevent future incidents.
