[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 20, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3642-H3643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LULU'S LAW
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 1003) 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1003
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``Lulu's Law''.
SEC. 2. WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS.
(a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Alert
Message'' has the meaning given the term in section 10.10(a)
of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation.
(b) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission
shall issue an order to provide that a shark attack is an
event for which an Alert Message may be transmitted.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Palmer) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.
General Leave
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Alabama?
[[Page H3643]]
There was no objection.
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1003, Lulu's Law. This
legislation is named after a courageous young woman from Mountain
Brook, Alabama, Lulu Gribbin, who suffered serious injuries in a shark
attack nearly 2 years ago, losing her left hand and part of her right
leg.
She was rushed to the hospital suffering from severe loss of blood,
which raised grave concerns as to whether or not Lulu would survive.
When she finally woke up in the hospital and saw her family, the
first words she spoke were, ``I made it.'' What makes this even more
heartbreaking is that a shark attack, possibly the same shark, occurred
just a mile or two away only 90 minutes prior. Had an alert gone out
warning of a shark attack nearby, these attacks might have been avoided
because the victim's friends and family would have received notice
prompting them to pull their loved ones from the water. But no such
warning was sent.
{time} 1220
Lulu's Law provides a commonsense solution. State and local
authorities can use wireless emergency alerts to notify the public when
a shark attack has occurred or when dangerous conditions are present
along the shoreline.
Lulu has inspired many in Alabama and across the entire Nation by her
response to her attack. She has turned a tragic experience into an
effort to help others by advocating for this bill and by founding the
Lulu Strong Foundation to assist other amputees. I commend her for her
resilience and determination to use her experience to help others
overcome life-impacting injuries.
While we cannot undo what happened to Lulu, we can honor her strength
and leadership by taking steps to better protect beachgoers and prevent
another shark attack from happening in the future.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to help
keep American beachgoers safe, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1003, the Senate companion to
H.R. 2076, Lulu's Law, named after Lulu Gribbin of Alabama, who was
attacked by a shark in 2024.
It was not long ago that Americans received emergency alerts
exclusively over broadcast television and radio channels. In the last
10 to 15 years, our emergency alerting capabilities have improved
significantly as a direct byproduct of innovation and breakthroughs in
wireless technology.
Prior to 2012, Americans needed to practically seek out emergency
warnings via broadcast programming to receive alert information being
distributed for any number of important situations. That is why the
creation of the Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA, system in 2012 marked
a significant leap forward in our ability to disseminate warning and
alert messages to the public.
All across the Nation, natural disasters like tornadoes, wildfires,
and flash floods show up with little or no warning. One tragedy after
another has demonstrated that being able to push emergency warning
information out directly to cell phones in the danger zone is one of
the most powerful tools that we have to save lives.
The WEA system allows alerting authorities at nearly every level of
government the ability to reach Americans where they are. Cell phones
are ubiquitous today, and the WEA system will only continue to be more
effective as wireless providers and alerting authorities take steps to
improve geotargeting and location accuracy.
These tools can also be utilized to protect beachgoers from threats
to life and safety posed by sharks.
This is especially important for me as I represent the Jersey Shore
towns that attract millions of visitors and billions in economic
activity during the summer months. As we approach the Memorial Day
weekend, the unofficial start to New Jersey's beach season, this
reminds us of the importance of being vigilant in and near the water
while at the beach. It is particularly timely because, just yesterday
in my district, a great white shark appeared off the coast of Asbury
Park. We know that dangerous circumstances posed by sharks or rip
currents leave even the most prepared swimmers in harm's way.
This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to issue an
order that drives home the point that potential shark attacks are
permissible uses of the WEA system. This is important because local
authorities can and should use every tool at their disposal to keep the
public informed of developments with clear actionable instructions for
how to respond safely.
I strongly support the passage of S. 1003, and I reserve the balance
of my time, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I would point out that Lulu and her family
are in the gallery observing the debate and will be here for the vote.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of
my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, as I say, I did not realize that she was up in the
gallery. I appreciate all the help that she has done in moving this
legislation because it is important. As I mentioned, this weekend is
Memorial Day weekend. We just had a huge shark actually appear off the
coast of Asbury Park, one of our premier beach destinations in my
district.
Mr. Speaker, I can't stress enough the importance of this bill, and I
urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on a bipartisan basis. I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his support. This
is another example of how in a bipartisan manner we can do good.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote favorably for S. 1003, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Palmer) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 1003.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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