President tours Baltimore bridge wreck, promises action

President Joe Biden on Friday told reporters and listeners that he and other public officials were “gonna move heaven and earth” to rebuild Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. Before the speech, Marine One circled around the twisted metal bridge. After landing, he received updates from the U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers. He said Maryland had one of the finest Congressional delegations in the nation, adding, “We’re gonna get this paid for, aren’t we?” to a chorus of approvals from officials gathered near the podium.

How does he propose to pay for rebuilding? On Friday, the Biden administration asked Congress for legislation to cover any needed costs, according to a letter from Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young. In his live speech Friday, Biden said those responsible for the bridge’s destruction would help pay to repair it. He added that federal funds would help bolster the U.S. port’s shipyard capacity in Sparrow’s Point, Md. The White House has authorized $60 million in federal Emergency Relief funds for Maryland’s initial costs.

What else did Biden say? He offered his condolences to the loved ones of the six workers who were filling potholes on the bridge and died when it collapsed. He said that local government workers and the U.S. military were to be applauded for clearing debris and starting repairs after the bridge collapse.

Dig deeper: Read Emma Freire’s report in WORLD Magazine about the repairs underway at the Francis Scott Key Bridge.