Senator Shelley Moore Capito is one of the recipients of a letter urging Congress to authorize the money required to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which collapsed earlier this month after a massive cargo ship lost power and collided with it.
Capito, R-W.Va., was addressed in the letter to key members of Congress because of her role as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Similarly-positioned colleagues in the Senate and House also received the letter.
The letter came from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and was timed to coincide with President Joe Biden’s visit to the disaster site in Baltimore.
“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,” wrote Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget.
The bridge at one of America’s most important shipping ports collapsed last week after a cargo ship lost power and control, striking one of its pillars.
Biden said last week he wants the federal government to foot the full bill of rebuilding the bridge. It’s not yet clear how much that cost would be, but billions of dollars are possible.
“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,” Young wrote in the letter to congressional representatives.
“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% Federal cost share for rebuilding the bridge.”
