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The House Freedom Caucus is demanding that any federal funds allotted to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge be offset by cuts elsewhere and that these {dollars} be narrowly geared toward simply structural repairs.
The ultra-conservative Republican group is staking out an official place as federal officers work with the Maryland authorities to evaluate the harm finished by each the destroyed bridge and the influence on exercise on the Port of Baltimore.
Before greenlighting funds for the restoration, nevertheless, the Freedom Caucus signaled for House GOP leaders to pressure the Biden administration to roll again its pause on new export permits for liquefied pure fuel (LNG).
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The House Freedom Caucus, led by Rep. Bob Good, is pushing for circumstances on Congressional support for Baltimore (Scott Olson/Getty Images and Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“Before Congress considers any emergency supplemental funding for the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, it’s important that (1) we first seek maximum liability from the foreign shipping companies upfront and (2) the Port of Baltimore draws upon already available federal funds,” the group stated.
“If it proves necessary to appropriate taxpayer money to get one of America’s busiest ports back online, Congress should ensure it is fully offset and that burdensome regulations…are waived to avoid all unnecessary delays and costs.”
The latter level was first raised final week by Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., a member of the Freedom Caucus who represents Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
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“Furthermore, this 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 Freedom Caucus assertion stated.
“Finally, the 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 bridge was destroyed when a container ship misplaced energy and rammed into it final week. (FBI Baltimore)
It’s not clear how a lot influence the group’s opposition can have – whereas it’s in early levels, a funding bundle is anticipated to get broad bipartisan help within the House and Senate, notably if it’s simply focused towards the bridge and its operations.
The bridge collapsed final week after a Singapore-linked container ship misplaced energy and rammed into the construction, killing six building staff.
House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., who can be the subcommittee chairman for transportation on the House Appropriations Committee, informed Fox News Digital days after {that a} funding bundle would possible come collectively in a “matter of weeks.”
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Cole, whose subcommittee is central to advancing any funding bundle for the bridge, additionally anticipate that these funds would wish to focus on extra than simply reconstruction.
Rep. Tom Cole, transportation subcommittee chair on the House Appropriations Committee, informed Fox News Digital days after the incident {that a} Congressional bundle might take form inside weeks. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“This could be a little more complex than normal. There’s obviously the bridge itself, but there’s also… potential damages relating to the interruption of traffic at the port,” Cole informed Fox News Digital. “There’s going to be a disruption of traffic, you may have people put out of work, and then the port itself, because it’s likely to not be fully operational for several weeks.”
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House Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital final week, nevertheless, had been divided over President Biden’s pledge that the federal authorities would foot the invoice for all the reconstruction.
Reports have estimated that the price might be as a lot as $2 billion.
Fox News Digital reached out to Speaker Johnson’s workplace for remark.
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