U.S. Senator Katie Britt addressed a standing-room-only crowd of Alabama business leaders Wednesday at the Alabama Business Coalition’s September member meeting in Washington, D.C., where she outlined the outlook for defense appropriations, artificial intelligence legislation, and children’s online safety in the final weeks before the end of the fiscal year.

The meeting, sponsored by The University of Alabama System, also featured Dr. Peter Mohler, President of The University of Alabama, who discussed the role of higher education in Alabama’s workforce development and economic growth.

After providing an update on several University priorities intended to meet national workforce demands, Dr. Mohler introduced, and praised Senator Britt’s efforts to secure significant funding for the University of Alabama, including $40 million for CIROH and at least $40 million for the National Water Center, her efforts to maintain and strengthen America’s leadership in biomedical research and innovation, and her leadership as one of only five Senators who have had two or more bills signed into law this Congress.

Britt gave members a direct assessment of where key legislation stands with a midterm election approaching. Much of Britt’s time was devoted to national defense, and in particular to the funding that flows through Alabama’s defense and aerospace corridor.

She credited Governor Kay Ivey and the entire Alabama congressional delegation for the state’s recent wins, including the return of U.S. Space Command headquarters to Huntsville.

“That success is something we want to see continue, and we want to create even greater opportunity for that in Alabama,” Britt (R-Montgomery) said, pointing to the state’s capabilities in munitions production and next-generation defense technology as areas where new investment “could transform both our state and the way that we approach national defense.”

Britt was blunt about the challenge.

Years of underinvestment, she said, have left the country “behind when it comes to actually funding these things,” and she argued the answer is not simply replenishing existing stockpiles but looking ahead.

“It is also looking at next gen. What is in the future? What do we need for hypersonics? What do we need to keep Americans safe?” she asked. “We do not need to be on our back heel. We need to be on our front foot.”

Britt told the group her strong preference is to fund those priorities through a bipartisan appropriations process, though she acknowledged that reconciliation remains an option later in the year.

Either way, she made clear where Alabama stands in her mind.

“I think, in the great state of Alabama, we do things better than anybody,” Britt said.

“I believe that the men and women who are building our defense capabilities in the state, that are working on our national security space and keeping us safe, do it better than anyone. So rest assured, I’ll be making sure we have a seat at the table.”

The line drew one of the strongest responses of the afternoon from a crowd that included many of the executives and advocates whose companies make up that very workforce.

Britt also offered a window into the conversations happening behind closed doors on artificial intelligence, an issue on which she said a number of Senate colleagues have sought her out in recent days.

“We have to maintain our edge on China. We have one right now,” Britt said.

“You certainly don’t want them to have that type of technology and capability, and us not. So we have to do that, but it is my opinion we have to do that in a responsible and thoughtful way.”

She said she does not expect AI legislation to move in the next several weeks, but that she is continuing to “dig in, both in public and private and classified settings,” to understand how the country can preserve its innovative edge while harnessing the technology safely.

On a related front, Britt, a mother of two, made an impassioned case for action on children’s online safety, an issue she has championed since arriving in the Senate.

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She cited data showing that suicide is now the second leading cause of death for Americans under 44, and that a staggering share of high school girls report having seriously considered suicide in the past year.

“It is simply unacceptable,” Britt said.

“The fact that we know what’s happening and that we refuse to put up simple guardrails to keep these kids safe and to empower parents, I think it is feckless by Congress, and I think now is the time to act.”

For the Alabama Business Coalition, Wednesday’s turnout was a statement in itself.

The organization brings together Alabama’s business leaders in Washington for regular member meetings designed to keep the state’s priorities front and center with policymakers, and the September program, pairing a sitting U.S. senator with the president of the state’s flagship university, reflected its focus on collaboration across business, government, and higher education.

“Bringing this group together in Washington gives us an opportunity to hear directly from the elected leaders shaping the policies that affect our state every day,” said Watson Donald, President of the Alabama Business Coalition and Director of Corporate Stakeholder Strategy with Alabama Power Company.

“Senator Britt’s perspective on defense, technology, and other issues facing Alabama was valuable for our members, and we appreciate her taking the time to join us and for her leadership. We’re also grateful to Dr. Mohler and The University of Alabama System for helping make today’s conversation possible.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.