Icon-x Facebook-f Instagram Youtube
Open Search
Close Search
Open Search
Close Search
Newsroom Press Releases

U.S. Senator Katie Britt Delivers Transformative Wins for Alabamians in 118th Congress, Looks Ahead to 119th Congress

January 1, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 1, 2025 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today reflected on a busy 118thCongress, which was her first in the U.S. Senate. In the 119th Congress, Senator Britt will serve on the following committees: Judiciary, Appropriations, Banking, and Rules. 

“Each and every day I serve as U.S. Senator for the great state of Alabama, I fight to grow opportunity for hardworking families and preserve the American Dream for generations to come. As I reflect on my first Congress, I’m proud to say that I’ve kept my promise to put Alabama first throughout the past two years, and I look forward to building on our important work in the 119th Congress. From being a responsible steward of Alabamians’ taxpayer dollars and returning them home to invest in our state; to pushing back on the Biden Administration’s reckless agenda; to introducing bipartisan solutions addressing child care, maternal health, and youth mental health; to combating America’s border crisis and strengthening interior immigration enforcement; to ensuring our warfighters remain the best equipped, trained, and prepared in the world and their families have the support they need; to fighting for Main Street America—I have made sure Alabamians’ voices are heard,” said Senator Britt. “Our people, values, and interests have a strong seat at the table in the Senate, and we are just getting started.”

“Heading into this next Congress, I am excited and ready to accomplish even more and deliver long-lasting wins for Alabamians. With Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress and President Trump back in the White House, we have a generational opportunity to implement the America First agenda voters overwhelmingly supported in November. Together, we will secure the border, grow opportunity and prosperity for hardworking Americans, unleash American energy dominance, restore peace through strength, and put our families back in the driver’s seat,” she continued.

In just two years, Senator Britt garnered several recognitions for her work in the Senate including CPAC’s Award for Conservative Achievement, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Champion of Youth Award, the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Friend of the Family Award, and the Salvation Army’s Fight for Good Award. She also received an A+ rating from the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s Candidate Fund for her advocacy in support of the sanctity of life, and an A rating from NumbersUSA, the second-highest score among all U.S. Senators, for her leadership in combating illegal migration and strengthening border security.

Investing in Alabama:

Returning Alabamians’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars back to Alabama remains a top priority for Senator Britt. The strategic funding she secured during her first two years in office will provide key investments in Alabama’s defense capabilities and military installations, rural health services, mental health research, child care, veterans, family farmers, law enforcement, local infrastructure, and economic development.

  • As a result of her tireless work on the Senate Appropriations Committee on behalf of Alabama, Senator Britt brought more than $6.9 billion back to the state in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations process, $1.232 billion of which she directly secured. Earlier this year, FY24 funding passed with many strategic, targeted investments across the state including:
    • $841 million for Alabama that directly supports strengthening military readiness, modernizing our defense industrial base, advancing munitions procurement, and supporting service members and their families;
    • Hundreds of millions of dollars for Abrams tank restoration at Anniston Army Depot;
    • $11 million to help more Alabamians access quality medical care at Helen Keller Hospital, Atmore Community Hospital, the City of Talladega, and the Huntsville Hospital Health System;
    • $369 million in construction projects at military installations across Alabama including Maxwell Air Force Base, Redstone Arsenal, Fort Novosel, and the Army Reserve Center in Birmingham;
    • $42 million to modernize and upgrade transportation infrastructure in local Alabama communities and $28 million for specific surface transportation infrastructure in communities across the state;
    • $10 million to address violent crime by investing in state and local law enforcement, counter the fentanyl crisis, and invest in economic development programs;
    • Almost $73 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support the movement of commerce along Alabama’s inland waterways and through the Port of Mobile; and 
    • An amendment authored by Senator Britt that secured $1 million in funding for research into how peanut farmers in Alabama and nationwide can best combat drought conditions.
  • In addition, Senator Britt in the Senate Appropriations Committee voted in support of the following FY25 funding for the state of Alabama:
  • Senator Britt also helped secure major wins for the State of Alabama through the recently passed Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which supports critical improvements to Alabama’s water infrastructure. Wins for Alabama in the legislation include:
    • Language directing the Army Corps of Engineers to expeditiously provide needed technical assistance to address the current impacts to navigation at the Wilson Lock and Dam;
    • Authorization of the construction of new locks at the Coffeeville and Demopolis Lock and Dams to maintain the long-term navigability of Alabama’s inland waterway system;
    • Modification of the federal cost share for the Selma Flood Risk Management and Stabilization Project to 100% to help ensure historic Civil Rights structures are maintained for future generations; and
    • Language directing the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure no less than 70% of suitable dredged material is used for beneficial use and further calls for collaboration with local stakeholders to address dredging and dredging material placement in Mobile Harbor.

Addressing America’s Border Crisis: 

As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Britt continues to make border security and the safety of American children, families, and communities a top priority.

  • Weeks into her first term, Senator Britt introduced a package of four pieces of legislation aimed at sealing and securing the southern border, cracking down on asylum abuse, keeping American communities and families safe, and ultimately ending the ongoing border crisis.
    • The package included the Keep Our Communities Safe Act, to stop the Biden-Harris catch-and-release agenda, and the WALL Act, to complete building the wall on the southern border.
  • Senator Britt, following the horrific murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley, introduced the Laken Riley Act, which would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and would mandate that these aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot reoffend and commit further crimes.
  • Senator Britt also joined several of her Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Secure the Border Act, the Senate’s companion bill to the House of Representatives’ H.R. 2.
    • The legislation would resume construction of the wall at the southern border, strengthen asylum standards, criminalize visa overstays, increase the number of Border Patrol agents, defund NGOs that are using tax dollars to resettle migrants within the U.S., and end the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s use of the CBP One app to assist illegal migrants.
  • This fall, Senator Britt recently led a group of Senate Republicans in asking the Senate to pass four critical pieces of legislation, including the WALL Act, which Senator Britt introduced, and the Stopping Border Surges Act, legislation she cosponsored.
  • Commonsense border legislation supported by Senator Britt, the Southern Border Transparency Act, passed the Senate this fall. This bill would require the DHS to accurately report how it is handling migrants encountered at the border and ensure the American people have a full, timely accounting of the number of migrants being released into the U.S. by the Biden Administration.
  • Senator Britt also supported the FINISH IT Act, legislation that forced the Biden Administration’s DOD to allow millions of dollars of unused border wall panels already owned by the U.S. government to be used to extend the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that was started under the Trump Administration. The FINISH IT Act was signed into law last year as part of the FY24 NDAA.
  • Senator Britt has made border security and the safety of American children, families, and communities a top focus during her Congress. She joined Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and 16 colleagues in introducing the Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension (PRINTS) Act. Senator Britt has cosponsored numerous additional pieces of legislation related to border security and interior immigration enforcement, including Senator John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) Visa Integrity Preservation Act and joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to strike down President Biden’s Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule; Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act; Senator Blackburn’s Stop Taxpayer Funding of Traffickers Act; Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2023 and Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act; Senator Ted Budd’s (R-N.C.) Build the Wall Now Act; Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) No Coyote Cash Act and Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act; Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) Border Safety and Security Act; Senator John Kennedy’s (R-La.) Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2023; and Senator Tim Scott’s (R-S.C.) FEND Off Fentanyl Act.

Supporting Alabama Families:

Senator Britt continues to be at the forefront of the Senate leading legislation empowering parents and supporting hardworking families. She has focused on addressing rural health care needs, prioritizing child care affordability and accessibility, supporting moms throughout all seasons of motherhood, building a comprehensive culture of life, and putting tools in the hands of parents to combat the negative impacts of social media on children and teens.

  • Early in her first term, Senator Britt questioned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) actions following the leak of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. She exposed federal marshals who were protecting the homes of Supreme Court Justices were explicitly instructed to avoid arresting leftwing protestors who were breaking the law by violating 18 U.S.C. §1507.
  • This year, Senator Britt introduced the IVF Protection Act to ensure no state prohibits access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) services. She also led the entire Senate Republican Conference in a joint statementstrongly supporting continued nationwide access to IVF.
  • In an effort to address child care challenges many parents face, Senator Britt introduced two pieces of legislation that together form a bold, bipartisan proposal to make child care more affordable and accessible. The legislation strengthens existing tax credits to lower child care costs and increase the supply of child care providers. She plans on continuing to advocate for the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act, which have received widespread support, in the 119th Congress, including in the upcoming tax proposal set for consideration in 2026.
  • Senator Britt has repeatedly introduced legislation to provide critical support for women during challenging phases of motherhood – prenatal, postpartum, and early childhood development – and to bolster access to resources and assistance to help mothers and their children thrive. Her More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act would provide strengthened support systems for moms and families, advance a comprehensive culture of life, and ensure moms have the opportunities and resources needed so they and their children can thrive and live their American Dreams.
  • Senator Britt also introduced the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act. Her bipartisan legislation would expand access to maternal care by offering support for rural health care facilities and doctors to provide urgent obstetric care. This is especially important for Alabama, as 55 of the state’s 67 counties are considered rural.
  • Earlier this year, she introduced the NIH IMPROVE Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide consistent support and resources for the NIH Improve Initiative to conduct important research into the causes of America’s maternal mortality crisis and to improve health care and outcomes for women before, during, and after pregnancy.
  • Senator Britt also reintroduced the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act last fall. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would eliminate copays and other out-of-pocket expenses for breast cancer diagnostic tests, making them more accessible and affordable.
  • Senator Britt introduced the Youth Mental Health Research Act to create a national Youth Mental Health Research Initiative to guide long-term mental health care efforts, better target preventive interventions for those at risk of developing mental health challenges, and improve treatments for children.
  • To address our nation’s growing mental health crisis exacerbated by the rise of social media, Senator Britt introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation: the Stop the Scroll Act, which would create a mental health warning label requirement for social media platforms, and the Kids Off Social Media Act,which would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17.
  • In honor of 16-year-old Lulu Gribbin from Mountain Brook, Alabama, Senator Britt introduced Lulu’s Law, which would codify shark attacks as events for which wireless emergency alerts (WEAs) may be transmitted. This would encourage authorized local, state, tribal, and federal government authorities to quickly deploy warnings via mobile phone alert messages to the public if a shark has attacked someone or if the conditions enhancing the possibility of a shark attack are present.
  • In the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Senator Britt previously secured passage of a key amendment directing a study on the feasibility of DOD behavioral health services to U.S. personnel and their dependents when stationed abroad. In the FY25 NDAA, Senator Britt expanded on this amendment, securing access to specialty behavioral health care under the TRICARE Prime program for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents when stationed abroad.


Advocating for Alabama’s Main Streets: 

On the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Britt continues to combat reckless rulemaking proposals by various U.S. federal financial regulators and oppose their harmful effects on Main Street America, community banks and local credit unions, as well as small businesses and consumers across Alabama.

  • Throughout her first term, Senator Britt was instrumental in pushing back against heavy-handed, anti-growth regulations. This includes successfully facilitating in the delay of the Basel III Endgame proposed rule finalization by continuously emphasizing the rule’s “trickle down effects” on Main Streets, community financial institutions, and the agriculture industry.
  • Senator Britt was the Senate lead in advocating for and effectuating a comment period extension on the long-term debt proposed rule. She continues to highlight the increasing politicization and regulatory overreach at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) – particularly its 1071 small business lending rule, a far-reaching regulation that imposes significant costs to our smallest community banks. 
  • Senator Britt also introduced the bipartisan Failed Bank Executives Clawback Act, following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, that would enable federal regulators to claw back compensation from bank executives who are responsible for their institution’s failures. She played a leading role in negotiations on the bill, which ultimately passed out of Committee, and secured a community bank carveout which would exempt 98% of Alabama banks.
  • Senator Britt introduced two capital markets bills in the 118th Congress, the Small Entity Update Act to provide regulatory relief for small businesses and the bipartisan Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act, which would expand retirement savings options for nonprofit employees. Both pieces of legislation were included in Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott’s (R-S.C.) legislative package, the Empowering Main Street in America Act.

Protecting American National Security:

With America in an increasingly dangerous position with adversaries like China, Iran, and Russia looking for any signs of weakness, Senator Britt fought for legislation to implement a peace through strength doctrine to once again prioritize America First policies.

  • Last month, Senator Britt’s bipartisan DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act passed the Senate by unanimous consent. Her bill would require all agencies under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide ballistic body armor to best protect both male and female law enforcement officers.
  • Since taking office, Senator Britt has supported several pieces of legislation holding foreign adversaries accountable and standing up for hardworking Americans, including the Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act, the Not One More Inch or Acre Act (which Senator Britt introduced to prevent any Chinese national or entity from owning American land), the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act (which passed as part of the FY24 NDAA), and the Protect Our Bases Act.
    • In addition, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 included an amendment sponsored by Senator Britt that would provide funding to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a streamlined and uniform process for the tracking and disclosure of all foreign investment in American farmland.
  • Over the past two years, Senator Britt has voted in favor of both the FY24 and FY25 NDAAs to support our servicemembers here at home and around the world.
  • Senator Britt also supported the MERIT Act, legislation that will ensure all military promotions are made on the basis of merit and performance. This legislation was signed into law last year as part of the FY24 NDAA.
  • Senator Britt continues to be an outspoken and strong supporter of Israel. Following the October 7 terrorist attack, Senator Britt traveled to Israel with a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues to meet with leaders across the region and emphasize the United States’ unequivocal support for Israel.
    • In total, she has signed on to 58 pieces of legislation, letters, and resolutions in support of Israel.
  • She has also been a leading voice on U.S. sanctions policy, leading questioning on enforcement actions the U.S. can undertake to ensure maximum pressure is exerted on Iran and their financial networks that fund terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
    • Senator Britt has sent numerous letters to Secretary Yellen and the Biden Administration regarding weak sanctions enforcement on Iran, expressing concern over the Administration’s continued pattern of appeasement.
    • In December of 2023, she led 30 of her Senate Republican colleagues in a letter urging the Treasury Department to enforce existing sanctions on Iranian steel.
  • Senator Britt has worked hard in the Senate to provide states with the tools they need to protect our elections processes and better ensure noncitizens are unable to register to vote. Last December, she led all of her Rules Committee Republican colleagues in introducing the Citizen Ballot Protection Act, the Senate companion bill to legislation originally introduced by Representative Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), which would ensure states are able to verify only American citizens are registering to vote in federal elections.

###

Print 
Share 
Like 
Tweet 
Katie Britt - U.S. Senator for Alabama
About
For Alabamians
Newsroom
Priorities
Contact
Icon-x Facebook-f Instagram Youtube

Search