The Biden administration has submitted a $4 billion emergency funding request to Congress on June 28, which includes $3.1 billion for a federal highway disaster relief program to fully fund the rebuild of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Additionally, over $725 million will be allocated to enhance federal disaster responses for the 2023 Maui wildfire and tornado recoveries in Iowa, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
This emergency funding request is a revision of President Biden’s October 2023 $106 billion emergency funding package, addressing urgent domestic needs such as disaster relief and border security. The administration urges prompt congressional action on this request to ensure preparedness for future events, especially as NOAA projects an active hurricane season ahead.
The bulk of the funding, $3.1 billion, will be directed towards the Department of Transportation’s Emergency Relief Program to cover the repair and rebuilding of highways and roads damaged in disasters, including the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. This bridge, which was destroyed by a containership in March, has been a significant focus of recovery efforts.
Maryland’s congressional delegation introduced the Baltimore BRIDGE Act to secure funding for the bridge’s reconstruction, with the FHWA approving the designation of the Key Bridge as part of the interstate system. The estimated cost of rebuilding the bridge ranges from $1.7 to $1.9 billion, with the Maryland Transportation Authority aiming to have a new structure in place by mid-October 2028.
Overall, the emergency funding request aims to address critical infrastructure needs and disaster response efforts to ensure the safety and resilience of communities across the nation.
The Army Corps of Engineers is seeking funds to replenish the money used for wreckage removal in Baltimore Harbor and an additional $79.5 million for the Coast Guard’s response to the disaster.
Furthermore, a $25 million allocation to the Dislocated Worker National Reserve is necessary to address the manpower and contractor needs resulting from various large disasters, such as typhoons, wildfires, and hurricanes, as well as cleanup and recovery efforts in Baltimore Harbor.
The administration’s funding request includes $700 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist with disaster relief, long-term recovery, and mitigation in the most impacted and distressed areas affected by major disasters in 2023 and beyond.
Additionally, the administration is emphasizing the importance of addressing other items in the October supplemental requests, including funding for the DRF, child care stabilization, wildland firefighter pay, and the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program.
During a background briefing, an administration official stated that there is no set deadline for congressional leaders to respond, but the urgent needs should be addressed promptly, as these requests have been ongoing for almost nine months.
