Federal lawmakers are expected to move quickly on additional spending requests expected to cover at least part of the reconstruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after it collapsed on Tuesday, Fox News reported. Ta.
It can take time to determine how much a project like this will cost and what your exact needs are.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after a container ship struck one of the main bridge supports. In the past few years, Congress has acted quickly to provide funding for bridge collapses and infrastructure catastrophes.
Aerial view of the cargo ship Dali, which collapsed after colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26, 2024. Rescuers were searching for at least seven people, and two others were pulled from the Patapsco River, authorities said. (Tassos Katopodis/Getty Images)
After the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed in 2007, killing 13 people and injuring 145, Congress acted quickly. The House unanimously passed a bill authorizing $250 million to rebuild the bridge just two days after the collapse. The vote was 421-0. The Senate later unanimously approved a slightly different version. The House then adopted the Senate version and unanimously approved the bill. After all, it took several days after the accident to sign the construction of a new bridge.
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Emergency funding for Tuesday’s disaster may not move forward as quickly as it did in 2007, given the scope of the tragedy and the size of the old Key Bridge.
Congress is currently in recess, fresh from a bitter fight over government spending. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, said in a statement Tuesday that he prayed for those involved in the incident and worked with state leaders to “reopen the Port of Baltimore, redirect critical road traffic, and rebuild the Key Bridge.” “We will make federal resources available to help rebuild.” as soon as possible. ”
Accumulating more debt without offset could cause problems in the House of Commons. In the House, fiscal hawks are already furious with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) over two spending bills.
Congressman Mike Johnson gathers in the chamber months before he was elected speaker of the House. (Congressman Mike Johnson’s Office)
However, people familiar with House operations told Fox that the emergency bridging funding bill was not passed despite House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) recently announcing that she would be relinquishing the gavel. He said he doesn’t expect any problems. House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) is considered an insider to replace Granger in the coming weeks.
After the spending bill was passed early Saturday morning, no one expected a new spending bill would be needed so soon.
After the Interstate 35W Bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed under its own weight in 2007, quick action by Congress and President George W. Bush expedited bridge recovery efforts and reconstruction.
Just days after the bridge collapse, President Bush declared a state of emergency for Minnesota, allowing the state to recover costs from the federal government and begin removing debris from the site.
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The late Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) was chairman of the House Transportation Committee at the time. Although the bridge was not in Oberstar’s district, he was able to get the state Department of Transportation to use his $250 million emergency budget to begin rebuilding the bridge.
The Dali cargo ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits in the water on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The new Interstate 35W bridge opened just over a year after the collapse.
Given the amount of trade that passes through the Port of Baltimore, not to mention the traffic and commerce that crosses the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major artery on the East Coast, Congress may be asked to provide funding to rebuild the bridge. There is. In record time.
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“Obviously it’s going to impact trade,” Republican Rep. Carol Miller of Virginia told Fox News on Tuesday. “I’m worried about my family and all the inconveniences that will come with the bridge gone. The bridge was a great connection.”
FOX News’ Thomas Phippen contributed to this article.
