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House Freedom Caucus lays out demands for considering Baltimore bridge funding

by Mychael Schnell - 04/05/24 12:16 PM ET

The House Freedom Caucus is issuing a series of conditions for considering funding to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, as Congress awaits a supplemental request from the Biden administration.

In an official position released Friday, the conservative group demanded that any funding for the bridge be “fully offset” and called on the Biden administration to first lift its pause on approvals for natural gas export projects before discussing a supplemental for the bridge.

“[T]he Biden Administration’s pause on approvals of liquified natural gas export terminals — which, like the Baltimore harbor closure, has severe implications for foreign trade — must be lifted before Congress considers appropriating any funding for the bridge reconstruction,” the group wrote.

The Freedom Caucus — which is comprised of roughly three dozen hard-line conservatives — is also asking authorities “seek maximum liability from the foreign shipping companies upfront” and that the Baltimore port “draws upon already available federal funds” before Congress considers any supplemental funding to rebuild the bridge.

The conservative group released its position shortly before President Biden was scheduled to travel to Baltimore to visit the site of the collapsed bridge, which fell last week after being struck by a cargo ship.

When delivering remarks about the bridge collapse last week, Biden said “it’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect the Congress to support my effort.”

Shalanda Young, the director of the Office and Management and Budget, reiterated that position in a letter to top lawmakers Friday, asking that Congress authorize “a 100 percent Federal cost share for rebuilding the bridge.”

“This authorization would be consistent with past catastrophic bridge collapses,” Young added.

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) during a House Budget Committee hearing to discuss the President Biden F.Y. 2025 budget from Director of OMB Shalanda Young on Thursday, March 21, 2024. (Greg Nash)

The administration has not yet disclosed how much the rebuilding effort will cost, but some estimates have put the number at $2 billion.

The White House’s vow, however, has run into some opposition from some conservatives, who have raised concerns about the ballooning deficit and argued that the company that owns the cargo ship that struck the bridge should pay for the reconstruction effort.

“The very thought of having the Federal Government pay for the Baltimore bridge is TOTALLY ABSURD!!” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a Freedom Caucus member, told The Hill by text message last week. “This exemplifies the old slogan ‘ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL!!’”

The Freedom Caucus also asked that various regulations “are waived to avoid all unnecessary delays and costs” and demanded that lawmakers do not tack other priorities on to the funding bill.

“[T]his funding must be limited to physical structure repairs with a federal nexus — this must not become a pork-filled bill loaded with unrelated projects and the House of Representatives must adhere to the ‘single subject’ rule,” the group said.

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It remains unclear when Congress will begin consideration of funding to rebuild the bridge. Members who represent Maryland are asking that the request is quickly considered. The House and Senate reconvene next week.

The next two weeks, however, are packed with other priorities for the two chambers. Congress is facing an April 19 deadline to reauthorize the nation’s warrantless surveillance powers, which has sparked a bitter battle on Capitol Hill. And Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has vowed to move forward with foreign aid legislation when the House returns to Washington, as lawmakers and officials sound the alarm about Ukraine’s standing in its war against Russia.

Tags Joe Biden Ralph Norman Shalanda Young