A deal to avert a government shutdown includes full federal funding for the rebuilding of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge after its collapse in March.
Congressional leaders reached an agreement to prevent a government shutdown, incorporating a provision guaranteeing full federal funding for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The provision also permits the Treasury Department to recover at least a portion of the funds spent through insurance claims and federal and state litigation stemming from the bridge's collapse.
A container ship named the Dali collided with a section of the Key Bridge in the early hours of March 26th. This incident caused disruptions to both domestic and international supply chains, effectively halting a considerable amount of shipping to and from the Port of Baltimore for over two months. Maryland officials estimated the cost of bridge reconstruction to be between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion. This federal measure is encompassed within a short-term government funding bill designed to avoid a partial shutdown until March 14th, providing lawmakers with additional time to negotiate a spending agreement for the remainder of fiscal year 2025. Notably, it is one of several seemingly unrelated policy provisions included in the bill that have provoked discontent among members of the Republican Party's right wing, who expressed feeling surprised and excluded from the decision-making process. Federal and state Democrats from Maryland, however, have lauded the inclusion of the Key Bridge funding in the bipartisan agreement. 'This has been a nine-month struggle to ensure that Baltimore City and Baltimore County are fully restored. And now, we are able to secure the full funding for the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild which Congress will vote on in the next 48 hours – this means so much to all of us throughout the state,' Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., stated. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who also commended the provision and criticized House Republicans for their opposition on Monday, prior to the final deal being reached
GOVERNMENT FUNDING FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE CONTAINER SHIP COLLISION SUPPLY CHAINS BALTIMORE
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