President Joe Biden said Tuesday he wants the federal government to bear the full cost of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key bridge after it collapsed in Baltimore Tuesday morning.
That could include funding from the Federal Highway Administration, as well as funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provides competitive grants to improve the nation’s bridges. But it could require additional funding from Congress.
"It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge," Biden said from the White House. "I expect the Congress to support my effort — this is going to take some time."
Responding to a reporter who asked whether the company who owns the container vessel Dali, which collided with the bridge and caused the collapse, should pay for the bridge's reconstruction, Biden said, "We're not going to wait for that to happen."
He continued, “I’ve directed my team to move heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible,” adding that the federal government will work “hand in hand” with the state of Maryland.