[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 12, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S1715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BRITT (for herself, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Warnock, Mrs. 
        Fischer, Mr. Ricketts, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Tuberville, 
        and Mr. Cassidy):
  S. 1003. A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to 
issue an order providing that a shark attack is an event for which a 
wireless emergency alert may be transmitted, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mrs. BRITT. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about something that 
I have spoken about on this floor before.
  Last September, an incredible young woman named Lulu Gribbin really 
came on to the scene with regard to a piece of legislation that we put 
forth before this body. You see, her life changed forever in July of 
last year. She is an incredible young woman from Mountain Brook, AL. 
She brought her entire community, her State, and now our Nation 
together.
  On June 7 of last year, out of the blue, she was attacked by a shark. 
She and a friend were looking for sand dollars, and obviously all of 
this came unexpectedly. What happened next was nothing short of a 
miracle. The doctors, nurses, EMTs, and everyday people on the beach 
that day saved Lulu's life.
  But the real miracle was just beginning. When Lulu woke up from 
surgery that day and got taken off of her ventilator, her very first 
words were ``I made it.'' That has become a mantra not just in how she 
reemerged but in the way that she has pushed forward.
  After a long rehabilitation, she came back to Alabama 3 months after 
the accident. She was determined. When you talk with her parents, they 
tell you about her aggressiveness. When other amputees would come and 
visit her and tell her how long it took them to walk or to do other 
things, she would say: I am going to do it faster. I am going to do it 
better.
  She was back outclassing golfers there at a driving range, not too 
long after. She refused letting losing an arm or a leg stop her.
  Just last week, Lulu spoke publicly for the very first time since the 
shark attack. Her grace, her faith, her strength, her perseverance--it 
was an inspiration to all of us. Lulu told a crowd that morning that 
she wakes up ready to conquer the day every day, and that she is 
motivated to keep getting better.
  She launched a foundation called Lulu Strong to help others in need 
get the prosthetic technologies that will make their lives easier. 
After visiting Walter Reed just a few weeks ago, you can tell how this 
advocacy can actually change lives.
  When the unimaginable changed her world, what Lulu decided to do was 
change our world for the better. Lulu is a modern-day American hero. 
The courage she has shown, the fight, the resolve that she has 
demonstrated are truly remarkable, and not just for a 16-year-old but 
for anyone.
  But it shouldn't have to be this way. Lulu is, indeed, an 
inspiration, but this tremendous battle that she has fought and won 
could have been prevented in the first place. You see, when I heard 
Lulu's story, I learned that there was another shark attack that 
happened just right down the shore, 90 minutes earlier. Elisabeth 
Foley, a mother of three, from Virginia, tragically lost her hand to a 
shark bite and suffered other terrible injuries resulting in 26 
surgeries.
  After talking with Lulu and her family, we said: It doesn't have to 
be this way. They knew there was something that could have been done. 
And after talking, we knew that there had to be a better way to get 
information out there to warn beachgoers about shark attacks in the 
area. That is when we introduced Lulu's Law, and it is why I am 
reintroducing this bill in this Congress today.
  This bill, which I am proud to share, has bipartisan support. It 
would empower local authorities to issue wireless emergency alerts 
warning beachgoers of potential shark attacks through the already 
existing wireless emergency system. This has the potential to make a 
real difference in Americans' lives. When we are given the opportunity 
to do something simple that can make such a big difference, I believe 
we have to take it.
  So, Lulu, I want you to know how much you inspire all of us. Your 
bravery in the face of the unimaginable is just amazing, and your 
taking what happened to you and saying: How can I make others' lives 
better? How can we make sure that this doesn't happen to someone else?
  We want to honor the strength that you have shown over the past 9 
months.
  To Lulu's parents Ann Blair and Joe Gribbin, the way you have all 
rallied our State and our country to support Lulu on her road to 
recovery is truly unbelievable.
  To my colleagues in the Senate on both sides of the aisle, whether 
you represent a State on the coast or you represent citizens of the 
interior, there is no doubt we want to keep our citizens safe, whether 
they live there or they are visiting. Making sure that we put 
safeguards in place that can prevent another tragedy from occurring is 
imperative.
  Let's pass this law. Let's celebrate this amazing young woman, and 
let's prevent this from happening again.
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