Staff Reports
This news article is about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the subsequent discussions about how much federal aid to ask for and how to allocate the funds. House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) advised the Biden administration and Maryland officials to “take their time” and carefully consider their request for federal aid. Cole emphasized that the funds are available for immediate needs and warned against underestimating the full scope of the crisis when requesting aid.
The Biden administration has already announced $60 million in emergency relief funds and it is likely that President Joe Biden will request additional funding for the bridge’s repair from Congress. This has sparked discussions among members of Congress about the level of federal involvement in addressing the bridge collapse.
Some House Republicans, such as Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), have criticized the idea of a federal aid bill, suggesting that the responsibility should lie elsewhere. On the other hand, Maryland Democrats and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) have shown support for the Biden administration’s approval of emergency federal funds. They have rebuked opposing comments as “short-sighted” and emphasized the importance of working together to ensure the economic success of American families.
Cole mentioned that there are various options for creating a funding bill, including using appropriated funds or a classic disaster response using obligated funds. He expressed optimism that an aid vote on the House floor will receive bipartisan support and emphasized the importance of getting the work done in a timely fashion without using a disaster as a political tool.
In his interview with the Washington Examiner, Cole related the federal response to the bridge collapse to previous experiences dealing with disasters and catastrophic events, such as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. He stressed the need for a careful and thorough assessment before requesting federal aid and highlighted the availability of funds for immediate needs. Cole also emphasized the importance of finding a bipartisan solution and ensuring that the work is completed without the aid legislation being used as a political weapon.
