Maryland Gov. Calls on Congress to Pass Bipartisan Bridge Reconstruction Bill

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (C) and lawmakers speak during a press conference about rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on April 9, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called on Congress on July 8 to pass a bipartisan bill to fund the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge over Baltimore’s harbor after it collapsed when a container ship hit it on March 26.

“This is something that’s ... a priority for this country, for our economic growth and development,” he told The Epoch Times.

Mr. Moore and federal officials, including President Joe Biden, have suggested that the federal government fund the reconstruction of the bridge, which carries highway traffic on the heavily traveled Interstate 95 network around Baltimore.

The Biden administration on June 28 submitted a $4 billion funding request to Congress, including $3.1 billion to fully pay for rebuilding the bridge. The request has faced skepticism from some Republicans in the House, where they have a majority and could block the bill.

“Congress still has roughly six months to act before any cost-share changes might occur,” Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) said in May.

Mr. Graves is the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which would have jurisdiction over the bill.

Republicans are concerned about cost estimates for the bridge’s reconstruction.

“It’s important we have a very firm estimate before we take any further action,” Mr. Graves said.

Mr. Moore said approving the president’s request would be the most bipartisan act that Congress could accomplish in its remaining time this session.

A lot of people are going to benefit from the measure, he said.

“But we’ve still got to make sure that we can move fast. I think that’s something we can do on a bipartisan basis,” Mr. Moore said.

Maryland is currently evaluating proposals for the bridge’s reconstruction, which is planned to be completed by 2028. Current debates about funding relate to whether the federal government will fully pay the eventual bill and cover other costs, such as insurance and maritime liability claims that have been filed regarding damage and disruptions from the collapse.

“The Port generates $70 billion of economic revenue for the City. It is the busiest port in the nation for automobiles, light trucks, farm and construction machinery, imported forest products, aluminum, and sugar,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said at a hearing regarding responses to the bridge collapse on July 10.

The House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative legislators that supports reducing government spending, has issued a series of conditions on supporting any bill to fund reconstruction. These include lifting the Biden administration’s pause on liquefied natural gas exports, a waiver of environmental and labor union construction requirements, and the “seeking of maximum liability from foreign shipping companies.”

Maryland’s congressional delegation introduced The Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act in the Senate and a similar bill in the House that would act on Democratic demands for a 100 percent cost-share, although they do not meet the Freedom Caucus’s criteria.

“Senator Cardin and Team Maryland will continue to work every legislative vehicle to pass the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act in its current form,” Sue Walitsky, a spokesperson for Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the bill’s sponsor, told The Epoch Times when asked whether it would be amended to meet Republican demands.

Should Congress pass an omnibus bill to fund the government for 2025, it may provide such a “legislative vehicle.”

Some executive branch officials have expressed that some parties other than the federal government might partially pay for the bridge.

“We can pretty much with certainty guarantee this will not be 100 percent federally funded, eventually, because we will recoup all the insurance payments,” Federal Highway Administration Administrator Shailen Bhatt said in testimony before Congress in May.

On the day the bridge collapsed, President Biden said, “It’s my intention that federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect the Congress to support my effort.”