BALTIMORE (AP) — President joe biden On Friday, he saw firsthand the efforts to clean up the “messy mess” of bodies. Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsesCranes, ships and dive crews are working to reopen one of the country's main shipping lanes.
Biden got his first close look at the devastation aboard Marine One as he circled the warped metal debris and mass of construction and salvage equipment that was removing debris from last week's collapse. On the ground, they were briefed by local officials, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Army Corps of Engineers about conditions in the water and the impact on the area.
Biden also greeted law enforcement officers who helped cut off traffic to the bridge just before the ship hit, which prevented even greater loss of life.
“I'm here to say the country is rooting for you, and I mean it,” Biden said from the shoreline overlooking the collapsed bridge. “Your country supports you.”
8 workers — immigration Participants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador were filling holes in the bridge when it collapsed in the middle of the night on March 26 when a huge cargo ship collided with it. Two men were rescued, but only two bodies were found. Six people who died have recovered. The president met with families of the victims near the bridge on Friday, the White House said.
“The damage was devastating and our hearts are still breaking,” Biden said.
The authorities are Temporary alternative channel For ships involved in debris removal. The Army Corps of Engineers will open limited-access shipping lanes for barge container ships and some vessels transporting automobiles and agricultural equipment by the end of this month, and normal shipping at the Port of Baltimore by May 31, according to the White House. He says he wants to regain his abilities.
This is important because prolonged delays in reopening shipping routes could lead to a further spread of infection. A shock to the economy. On a typical day, as much as $200 million in cargo passes through the Port of Baltimore, making it a major hub for importing and exporting automobiles.
More than 50 salvage divers and 12 cranes are on site helping to cut out sections of the bridge and remove them from the main waterway. Officials told Biden they have all the resources needed to reach their goal of opening the Port of Baltimore.
Biden also announced that some of the biggest employers affected by the bankruptcy, including Amazon, Home Depot and Domino Sugar, have committed to keeping workers on payroll until ports reopen. . The news comes after several days of assistance efforts by state and federal authorities to try to lessen the economic impact of the incident.
“From the air, you see bridges torn apart,” Biden said, “but on the ground, you see communities coming together.”
However, it is still unclear how the costs of cleaning and building a new bridge will be met.
federal highway administration provided $60 million First, please use the “Quick Release” Emergency Relief Fund.It's unclear exactly how much the collapse will cost, but some experts predict recovery will take time. Minimum of $400 million and 18 months.
“The federal government will pay the full cost of rebuilding the bridge, and I look forward to Congress supporting my efforts,” Biden said within hours of the collapse.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell likened the bridge collapse to the influx of aid after a natural disaster, saying, “The federal government will step up and take on the lion's share of the funding.” But Congressional approval likely won't be easy.
The White House announced Friday that it will ask Congress to authorize the federal government to pay 100% of the cost of cleaning and rebuilding the collapsed bridge, rather than raising the money through a separate emergency supplemental funding request.
In a letter to Congressional leaders, Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said that in 2007, when a downtown Minneapolis freeway bridge collapsed during the evening rush hour, killing 13 people, He noted that similar techniques were used in recovery and reconstruction efforts that received partisan support from Congress.
“We are asking Congress to join us in demonstrating our commitment to supporting the recovery effort,” Young wrote, but we are not sure how much money the government will provide to cover that cost. It is still unclear exactly whether this will be necessary.
But some hardline congressional Republicans are already lining up to demand a politically controversial funding offset. The conservative House Freedom Caucus issued a statement Friday saying, “If it turns out that taxpayer funds need to be diverted to reopen one of the nation's busiest ports, Congress will “We must ensure that they are fully offset and that burdensome regulations are removed.” It cited potential federal spending cuts in other areas and regulations such as the Endangered Species Act.
The lawmakers' letter also suggested that approval of the bridge restoration fund is tied to the Biden administration agreeing to lift the moratorium it has placed on liquefied natural gas exports.
Funding issues only heighten the political impact of the collapse as Biden faces off against the former president donald trump in the November election.
This is the second large-scale disaster to occur in the central northeastern part of the country in recent years.An overpass along Interstate 95 in Philadelphia last summer. A fire broke out and the building collapsed. After being hit by a tanker truck. Federal and state officials moved quickly to make emergency repairs and ultimately reopened that section of the highway sooner than expected.
But cleaning up and restoring Baltimore will take much longer and cost much more, making it far less likely that it will ultimately be politically positive for Biden, especially in time for Election Day. is.
That hasn't stopped the Biden administration from championing new policies. Public works package exceeding $1 trillion Passed by Congress in 2021.
The bridge collapse has also drawn national attention to Maryland's Democratic Party. Governor Wes Moore, 45, is leading the Biden re-election campaign's efforts to energize younger voters on behalf of the 81-year-old president. He accompanied Biden on helicopter tours and press conferences, and introduced the president before his speech.
The president himself tours the country to highlight highway, bridge, and tunnel construction projects. In 2022, he arrived at an event in Pittsburgh just hours after crossing the bridge. collapsed nearby. Pushing forward with the public works package also allowed the president to lean into his own policies. I love train travel As a senator from Delaware, he traveled to and from Washington on Amtrak for many years.
Biden himself said he crossed the bridge “about 1,000 times” on his way to work from Washington to his home in Delaware, and the state transportation secretary quipped, “Thank you for paying the toll.”