Palmer Scores Committee Wins on Public Safety and National Security

January 22, 2026 - WASHINGTON - Two of Representative Gary Palmer's priority bills-one focused on public safety and the other on national security-cleared a major hurdle this week as the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced both measures during a full committee markup.

Palmer Scores Committee Wins on Public Safety and National Security

Representative Gary Palmer (AL‑06) saw two of his bills move forward in Congress after the Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 2076, Lulu's Law, and H.R. 6373, the Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act of 2025. Both measures were passed during the committee's January markup session.

Palmer emphasized that the bills address two different but equally important forms of security-family safety and national strategic security.

Lulu's Law: Protecting Families From Shark Attacks

Lulu's Law, named in honor of a young Alabama girl injured in a shark attack, aims to strengthen public safety measures in coastal areas. While the bill's full text outlines specific federal actions, Palmer summarized its purpose succinctly: it is "about protecting people from shark attacks."

The legislation reflects growing concern over rising shark encounters in U.S. waters and seeks to improve coordination, reporting, and prevention strategies to reduce risks for families visiting beaches.

Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act

The second bill, H.R. 6373, targets a critical national security challenge: America's dependence on China for rare earth elements and critical minerals. These materials are essential for defense systems, advanced manufacturing, and clean‑energy technologies.

Palmer's bill would streamline and modernize the federal air‑permitting process for facilities involved in processing and refining these minerals-an area where regulatory delays have historically slowed domestic development. The goal is to ensure the U.S. can "build the rare earth and critical minerals processing and refining facilities the U.S. needs to eliminate our reliance on China."

This aligns with broader bipartisan efforts to strengthen supply chains and reduce vulnerabilities in sectors vital to national defense.

Palmer's Statement

Following the committee votes, Palmer highlighted the dual importance of the legislation:

"Advancing these bills through committee addresses security-family security and our national security... I'm grateful to see both bills move forward, and I look forward to seeing them advance to the House floor."

What Comes Next

With committee approval secured, both bills now await scheduling for consideration on the House floor. If passed by the full House, they will move to the Senate for further action.

Given the bipartisan interest in both public safety and critical‑minerals independence, these measures could gain momentum as Congress continues to prioritize national resilience and community protection.