U.S. Senator Katie Britt Praises Birmingham’s Biotech Leadership, Manufacturing Capabilities with Commerce Secretary Lutnick
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) attended a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to discuss the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget Proposal for the Department of Commerce.
Senator Britt started by praising the work of Alabama institutions to support the growth of Birmingham’s biotechnology ecosystem, saying: “I want to highlight the good work that’s done by Southern Research and their Birmingham Biotech Hub. The Birmingham-based experts and scientists are national leaders in ecology, precision medicine, population health, and infectious disease, and are well-positioned to make sure that any groundbreaking advancements that are made can be done there . . . I really appreciate your commitment to making sure the process is fair and thoughtful moving forward.”
Senator Britt also received a commitment from Secretary Lutnick to discuss the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration Tech Hubs program.
Senator Britt then highlighted Alabama’s automotive industry growth and success, saying, “Auto manufacturing has truly transformed our economy, and it has literally driven us into the 21st century. … In a little over 25 years, Alabama has become the premier host for the automotive industry. We are also the number one auto exporting state in the country.”
The Senator continued, “The work that we’re doing, I think, is exactly what President Trump wants to see more of: onshoring jobs and providing life-changing opportunities for the citizens that I serve. And so, I want to know how are you going to work to replicate the great work that’s being done in places like Alabama and other states?”
“Our objective, especially in auto, is to reshore. I think we have $250 billion of committed reshoring in auto alone. I think … your state is going to be a great beneficiary. … Auto is coming back to America and the President is on it, and he’s driving it, and we feel it every day,” Secretary Lutnick assured.
Senator Britt continued, saying, “These are jobs that change what is possible for the people in those communities. And they have been able to achieve the American Dream as a result of those opportunities, and we want to make sure that they keep coming.”
In the Senator’s next line of questioning, she touted Mobile as the fourth-largest manufacturing location for commercial aviation in the world, asking, “Will you consider the production needs of both Airbus and Boeing to meet the extreme commercial backlog that we’ve seen, I think it’s now over 14,000 aircraft in order to make sure that we are doing what we need to meet the needs of our country?”
“Exactly the way you’ve said it,” responded Secretary Lutnick.
In her final line of questioning, Senator Britt asked Secretary Lutnick about the Administration’s recent tariff policies, specifically regarding steel and aluminum, to which Secretary Lutnick responded, “As the President says, you don’t make steel, you can’t fight a war. So, he’s protecting that industry, bringing it back. You’re going to see more steel and aluminum furnaces and mills in the history of this country be built over the next three years. And they’re all committed to it and they’re coming.”
The Senator’s line of questioning can be viewed here.
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