On Tuesday, President Biden promised to repair Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after it fell into the water following a collision with a cargo ship. This echoes previous statements by Maryland officials but emphasizes that he anticipates the federal government covering the cost.
During remarks at the White House, Biden stated that he intends for the federal government to cover the entire reconstruction cost and anticipates Congress supporting his initiative. He assured the people of Baltimore that the government will stand by them throughout the process of reopening the port and rebuilding the bridge, despite the lengthy timeline.
He mentioned speaking with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and other officials, including the congressional delegation and two U.S. senators. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also traveled to the Baltimore site.
Biden emphasized the bridge's significance to the northeast economy and quality of life.
Biden instructed his team to expedite efforts to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as possible, pledging support for Governor Moore during the conversation.
He expressed his intention to visit the collapse site in Baltimore at the earliest opportunity. When asked about the financial responsibility of the cargo ship company, Biden suggested that it could be considered, but stressed that action should not be delayed while waiting for this.
He affirmed that the government will cover the costs of rebuilding and reopening the bridge.
The bridge, located on Interstate 695, was struck around 1:30 a.m. by cargo ship Dali, which was en route to Sri Lanka, causing most of the steel structure to collapse into the water.
Biden underscored the significance of the Port of Baltimore as a major shipping center, which handled a record amount of cargo last year. He also highlighted the large volume of vehicles and jobs depending on the port, as well as the daily traffic on the bridge.
Additionally, he mentioned that authorities reported eight missing individuals, but two have been rescued— one unharmed and one in critical condition.
Biden added that local authorities had closed the bridge to traffic prior to the collision and that current information indicates the incident was an unintentional accident.
He mentioned that he has frequently traveled to Delaware by car or train, passing over the bridge numerous times.
Maryland and Baltimore are currently under a state of emergency. Moore stated at a press conference earlier on Tuesday that the ship’s distress call had prevented casualties by stopping bridge traffic.
