WASHINGTON – A couple of Alabama’s federal lawmakers focused on the state’s biotech, automotive and agriculture industries during U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s recent appearances in front of the influential committees that fund the government.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, opened her questioning of Lutnick last week, highlighting the Birmingham Biotechnology Hub, which recently lost a $44 million federal grant.
The Trump administration rescinded the grant last month, which was awarded in January. The funding was slated for health care innovation under the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration Tech Hubs program. The lead agency, Southern Research, will now have to recompete for the grant.
“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,” Britt said.
“I really appreciate your commitment to making sure the process is fair and thoughtful moving forward.”
Britt asked Lutnick to sit down with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to talk about the Tech Hubs program. He agreed to do that.
Before Britt’s questioning, Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon also asked the secretary to commit to a fair process when tech hubs recompete for those grants.
In a statement after the grant was rescinded in May, Britt said she remains “strongly supportive” of the work in Birmingham.
During her questioning, Britt also mentioned Alabama’s automotive industry. She noted how it is the “No. 1 auto exporting state in the country.” Considering that fact, she asked Lutnick about the potential of an export credit for automakers, which would provide financial assistance to companies that send vehicles to other countries.
“The idea of the export credit comes with a trade deal,” Lutnick said. “If you’re not willing to open your market, why are we giving you anything? But if you’re gonna open your market, now let’s talk.”
Britt said she wanted to continue to bring more auto manufacturing jobs to Alabama.
On the House side, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, who joined the Appropriations Committee this year, expanded on Alabama’s role in the auto manufacturing industry, highlighting Mazda Toyota Manufacturing located in his north Alabama district.
He asked Lutnick how the Trump administration is investing in sectors beyond automotive in the United States to reduce dependence on foreign countries.
“So, we need pharmaceuticals to be reshored to America,” Lutnick said. “We need semiconductors…reshored in America.”
Lutnick also said he was focused on making aircraft parts domestically.
While touting Mobile as a manufacturing hub for commercial aviation with its Airbus facility, Britt asked Lutnick to “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?”
Lutnick responded in agreement, “Exactly the way you’ve said it.”
During Strong’s questioning of Luntick, he also asked him what “the number one thing as Secretary that you can do to help the American farmer?”
Luntnick said he’s focused on making trade deals with other countries and opening markets for “beef, poultry, (and) pork.”
The secretary appeared in front of the appropriations committees to discuss the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget request.