President Joe Biden he pledged to rebuild the Key Bridge by Francis Scott in Baltimore, collapsed after a ship collided. He secured full federal funding for reconstruction, despite opposition from conservative members of the House.
What happened: President Biden visited the site of the collapsed bridge on Friday and promised the city that the federal government would cover the full cost of repairs. The president also said the United States would seek damages from the “responsible” parties, Politico reported.
President Biden, who has a personal connection to the bridge, having used it frequently as a senator, emphasized his government’s commitment to supporting Maryland and Baltimore in the rebuilding process.
See also: Trump suffers a legal double whammy in a single day: ‘It just shows that everything is moving forward’
“My administration is committed, absolutely committed, to ensuring that the parties responsible for this tragedy pay to repair the damage and are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, but I also want to be clear: We will support Maryland and Baltimore every step of the way. path to help you rebuild and maintain all the businesses and commerce that are here now,” he said
The President’s visit came nearly two weeks after a container ship, the “Dali,” collided with the bridge, causing a significant portion to collapse into the Patapsco River and killing six construction workers. He received an aerial tour of the bridge site with the Governor. Wes Moorehe was informed by the rescuers and had meetings with the families of the victims of the collapse.
Because matter: The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was a shocking accident that occurred after a vessel collision, leading to several vehicles plunging into the river and triggering a frantic search for survivors. The tragedy has sparked a debate over the cost of the damage and who would be responsible for it. The collapse has also put pressure on global trade, shipping and the industry as a whole.
President Biden’s first priority is to reopen the port and protect the 20,000 jobs that depend on its trade. He urged businesses with employees in the area to stay open and maintain payrolls, the report noted.
The President pledged to “move heaven and earth to rebuild this bridge as quickly as humanly possible and we will do it with the work of unions and American steel.”
Administration and state officials have not yet released the estimated cost of reconstruction. The administration asked Congress to cover 100% of the price, a move that faced opposition from conservative members of the House.
Read next: DeSantis furious as legal weed, abortion rights near November election, calls amendments ‘radical’ and ‘confusing’ for voters
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and has been reviewed and published by Benzinga Editors.
Photo via Shutterstock