Letter Regarding Authorizing Language for Rebuilding Francis Scott Key Bridge

The Honorable Sam Graves
Chairman, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Tom Carper
Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Rick Larsen
Ranking Member, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito
Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Chairman Graves, Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Larsen, Ranking Member Capito:

I write to you today as the President travels to the city of Baltimore to visit the site of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.  As the President said within hours of the collapse:  this Administration will be with the people of Baltimore every step of the way and the Federal Government must fund the repair and rebuild of the bridge.  Since the bridge collapse, the Administration has done everything in its power to work with the State of Maryland and Members of the Maryland delegation to respond to the collapse of the bridge, including using existing funds for immediate efforts for rescue and salvage and to begin the process of rebuilding.

The President has also been clear since day one about his commitment—that the Federal Government should cover any needed costs for reconstructing the bridge.  While we continue to assess those costs alongside our Federal and State partners, we are asking the Congress to join us in demonstrating our commitment to aid in recovery efforts by authorizing a 100 percent Federal cost share for rebuilding the bridge.  This authorization would be consistent with past catastrophic bridge collapses, including in 2007, when the Congress acted in a bipartisan manner within days of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minnesota.

As the Administration pursues its work to clean up wreckage, clear the channel, and rebuild the bridge, all avenues to recover the costs of past, current, and future work will continue to be pursued and the Administration will ensure that any compensation for damages or insurance proceeds collected will reduce costs for the American people.

We stand ready to work with the Congress to ensure the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland has what it needs to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which is critical to the Nation’s workers and economy.

Sincerely,

Shalanda D. Young