Final congressional spending bill to include 100% funding for Key Bridge replacement

Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun on Dec 17, 2024

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A catch-all, end-of-session congressional spending bill will include a commitment from the federal government to paying the full cost of replacing the Key Bridge, according to Maryland’s U.S. senators.

“With the inclusion in the Continuing Resolution of our Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act, Congress is now committed to covering the full cost of replacing the bridge,” Maryland Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen said in a new release Tuesday night.

The measure, which is needed to continue to operate the government after Friday, includes a commitment to fund the new bridge at 100%, the senators said.

“This will allow the bridge it to be built as quickly as possible. Our provision also ensures that the federal taxpayers will be reimbursed through proceeds from insurance payments and litigation taken on by the Department of Justice, the Maryland Attorney General and others.”

Congress has not yet voted on the final spending bill.

Federal highways are generally funded with 90% federal money and 10% from the affected state. But the White House says a 100% federal cost share is consistent with the response to disasters such as the Key Bridge collapse in March that killed six construction workers and temporarily choked commerce to the Port of Baltimore. The cost of the new bridge is estimated at $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion.

House Republicans, particularly the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus — led by Republican Maryland representative Andy Harris — had raised concerns about the cost of the overall spending bill, known as a continuing resolution.

Harris, whose district includes Harford County, the Eastern Shore and some of Baltimore County, wasn’t ruling out supporting the spending bill but had said offsets needed to be made to lower the cost.

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