U.S. Senator Katie Britt Highlights Alabama’s National Water Center, Gulf of America Economy with Secretary Lutnick

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) hearing to review the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of Commerce budget request with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The Senator asked the Secretary about the misclassification of the Rice's whale as an endangered species in the Gulf of America and underscored the importance of timely and accurate weather information to mitigate loss when severe weather outbreaks occur.

Senator Britt, who has consistently advocated for following the best-available science, began her line of questioning by stating, "I want to just start right in on NOAA and listing the Rice's whale in the Gulf of America as an endangered species that happened in 2019. However, an in-depth peer review that came out and was published in December raised an important question about, you know, is it an actual distinct population from the wide-ranging and abundant Bryde's whale? I can't emphasize enough the implications of misclassifying these whales as endangered. The listing created a substantial national security risk, which you and the entire Endangered Species Committee recently highlighted."

She continued, highlighting her leadership, saying, "In October of 2023, I led … the Republicans in the Alabama delegation … on a letter to the former NOAA administrator highlighting these impacts and the national security concerns. So, my question for us is, with this in mind, are you going to reevaluate the science based in this new study and take that into consideration and consider delisting the population until there is … a stronger scientific record to go on?"

Secretary Lutnick agreed, responding, "It is important that we use the best science, and it is vital … The Rice's whale-is it actually a different species than the Bryde's whale? … And if it is not, we need to stop the nonsense of treating something as if it's endangered, when, of course, it's plentiful … We want to do it honestly, and we don't want something that is inappropriate in the way of our fishermen and our energy, because we are the Department of Commerce. We need America to thrive and succeed. We need the Gulf of America to thrive and succeed. We need the Alabama fishermen to thrive and succeed … And we will make sure that we will use science honestly to make sure that's the outcome and not what has previously been seen as bias."

Senator Britt continued her line of questioning, highlighting the Commerce Department's role in bolstering weather forecasting capabilities: "I'd like to address the department's critical role in the collection and dissemination of lifesaving information during severe weather events. In recent years, we have just witnessed unthinkable devastation. I'm thinking specifically about July 4th of last year in Texas … Senator Peter Welch and I have a bill, the Water Research Optimization Act, that I hope that this body will really take a look at. But in addition to that, the University of Alabama and the National Water Center work hand-in-glove obviously with NOAA to make sure that we can have better data and inform people better in the future. … I know delivering that information is a challenge, but I think it is critical that it not be buried in government bureaucracy, but that we actually utilize it to inform people better and make people's lives better and safer."

"The key part of the National Weather Service is safety for Americans, and we need to use all resources that are possible to do the best job we can. I think the people at the National Weather Service are really these are extraordinary Americans, and they work their tails off to protect us. And I am honored to lead them… [T]his hurricane season was the most accurate and earliest warning ever … We will work hard together with the water center in your state, and we will work hard to do the best we possibly can," Secretary Lutnick responded, recognizing the National Water Center's critical work.

You can watch the Senator's full remarks here.

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