As state of , Maryland , authorities consider which contractor to choose for the , Francis Scott Key Bridge , alternative, the , White House , reiterated Friday its plans to , bank the rebuild , in its totality.
Political President , Joe Biden , has stated the federal government did fully pay for the new gate, and , Shalanda Young, director of the , Office of Management and Budget, once urged , Congress , to do so in a letter to the , Republican House , Speaker , Mike Johnson.
The email updated demands that the , White House , sent , Congress , in October, including a fresh ask for$ 3.1 billion to restore highways and roads “damaged in catastrophe and other situations”— which includes the new , Key Bridge. The course is expected to cost around$ 1.7 billion. In addition to funding the new gate, the text calls for funds for crisis comfort from fires last summer on , Maui , and storms throughout the state.
” I urge the , Congress , to take action as soon as possible, and the Administration stands prepared to work with you to finance these essential needs”, Young wrote.
Federal highways are typically funded by the federal government with a 95 % federal contribution and a 5 % state contribution, but the letter reiterated the White House’s request to grant” 100 percent Federal cost share for bridge reconstruction, in keeping with the response of previous bridge collapses.”
The federal government had likewise “pursue all strategies to recover the expenses of rebuilding”, the notice continued. That might involve recovering money from litigation or plan.
The 984- feet goods send Dali lost power , March 26, crashing into one of the Key Bridge’s help piers and collapsing the construction. Six construction staff were killed, and 50, 000 tons of dust fell into the Patapsco River, half obstructing the major freight route until earlier this month.
The federal government has footed the bulk of the bill for that cleanup and the , White House , further asked , Congress , on Friday for$ 33 million to replenish , Army Corps of Engineer , funds used for “wreckage removal activities” in the , Baltimore , harbor and shipping channel, as well as$ 79.5 million for , Coast Guard , costs associated with the , Key Bridge , response.
The state of Maryland ‘s , Board of Public Works  , will consider Wednesday a ,$ 50 million contract with Skanska, a construction company, for helping clear the waterway. The state anticipates that those funds will be reimbursed by the federal government.
” In addition, the Administration looks forward to working with the , Congress , on relieving tax penalties incurred by longshore workers at the , Port of Baltimore , who withdrew from their retirement plans due to the hardship of being out of work as a result of the bridge collapse”, Young wrote in her letter.
Congress , has not yet passed a bill that would fully fund the bridge rebuild.  , U. S. Sen.  , Ben Cardin, fellow Democratic Sen.  , Chris Van Hollen, and other , Maryland , lawmakers are seeking a larger bill on which to attach legislation ensuring the federal government pays the full cost of replacing the bridge.
” We need a vehicle”, Cardin said Friday in an interview, referring to a timely measure — such as a spending bill — likely headed for passage.
The bridge bill, introduced , April 11, specifies that the federal portion of emergency relief funds for the “bridge and its approaches shall be 100 percent”. It requires that any funds recovered from insurance or liability payments be used to offset federal payments.
U. S.  , Rep.  , Kweisi Mfume, a Democrat from Maryland ‘s , 7th District, and , U. S.  , Rep , Andy Harris, a Republican from Maryland ‘s , 1st District, proposed an amendment this month to the National Defense Authorization Act, which outlines the , U. S.  , military budget each year. The amendment would have a provision requiring the federal government to pay the entire cost of the new bridge.
No problem is looming too large as we use every means at our disposal to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to Mfume in a statement released on Friday.
Harris has called for the federal government to “front the money” to cover the rebuild, “while working to be paid back by any liable parties”, a Harris spokesperson said Friday.
U. S.  , Rep.  , David Trone, a Democrat from Maryland ‘s , 6th District, said in a statement he’s working to “deploy additional federal funding as quickly as possible”.
” I am aware of how crucial it is to restart this bridge.” We continue to push toward a bipartisan funding package that supports 100 percent of the replacement of this critical bridge, and I commend , President Biden , and his Administration’s steadfast partnership in this effort. Our society cannot afford to wait, so we must put politics aside and deliver results, Trone said in a statement released on Friday.
A , Key Bridge , builder will be selected by mid- to late summer and the project is expected to be finished by , October 2028.
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