President Biden is making a visit to Baltimore on Friday to show his support following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which has had a significant impact on the city and disrupted traffic and commerce in the state.
The President will be inspecting the site of the disaster and holding meetings with state and local authorities. According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Mr. Biden is keen on getting a firsthand look at the federal response efforts in progress. The bridge collapsed on March 26 after being struck by the Dali, a container ship flying the flag of Singapore. Six workers who were on the bridge at the time fell into the Patapsco River below and tragically lost their lives. President Biden will also be meeting with the families of the victims on Friday.
"As the president emphasized shortly after the collapse, this administration is committed to standing by the people of Baltimore throughout this ordeal," Jean-Pierre stated. "Baltimore, we are here for you, and we will continue to support you until the job is done."
The President has expressed that the federal government should cover the entire cost of reconstructing the bridge, a decision that would require approval from Congress.
It's not yet clear what that will cost, and some Republicans have expressed opposition to having the federal government foot the bill. The Biden administration has approved $60 million in immediate aid to help clean the wreckage.
White House Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young on Friday wrote to Congress and called on lawmakers to authorize "a 100 percent federal cost share for rebuilding the bridge." She reminded them that "Congress acted in a bipartisan manner within days" to provide similar funding after the 2007 collapse of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minnesota.
Next Tuesday, Maryland's congressional delegation will be meeting with Gov. Wes Moore and Young Tuesday to discuss emergency funding for Baltimore and its response to the bridge collapse.
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A second temporary channel opened this week for some water traffic to proceed, but it will take years to rebuild the bridge, a key artery for the city, state, and Northeast corridor. The fall of the bridge has been a drag on the local economy, too. About 35,000 cars crossed the bridge each day, and those travelers will now need to take longer and more congested routes.
"In the face of this tragedy, we stand united as a community. We will overcome this challenge together," declared Mr. Biden in the aftermath of the incident. "The resilience of the people of this city is remarkable, and we are here to support you until the port is operational again and the bridge is reconstructed."
