By Tori B. Powell and Michael Williams, CNN
Updated 5:12 p.m. ET, April 5, 2024
During a visit to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse site on Friday, President Joe Biden pledged federal support for the recovery effort while offering his condolences to the families of six workers killed when a container ship collided with the bridge last week.
“To all our military members and first responders and most importantly, the people of Maryland. I’m here to say your nation has your back, and I mean it — your nation has your back,” Biden said, amid the backdrop of the collapsed bridge. “The damage is devastating, and our hearts are still breaking. Eight, eight construction workers went into the water when the bridge fell, six lost their lives. Most were immigrants, but all were Marylanders —hard-working strong and selfless.”
Here’s what you should know about his visit:
- Biden expresses grief: Biden drew from his own experience with loss — as he often has in the wake of tragedies — telling the families of those killed, “I’ve come here to grieve with you—we all are.” He went on to say, “It’s not the same, but I know a little bit about what it’s like to lose a piece of your soul to get that phone call late at night saying family members are gone—I’ve been there.” The president continued: “I’ll also never forget the contributions these men made to this city — we’re going to keep working hard to recover each of them.”
- Operational update: He offered an operational update on recovery efforts, including federal efforts to minimize supply chain disruption, noting that two channels have already been cleared for small commercial vessels with a third channel projected to be opened by the end of the month, “and by the end of May, we’ll open the full channel.”
- Rebuilding the bridge: He vowed to “move heaven and earth to rebuild this bridge as rapidly as humanly possible” and said that those responsible for the bridge collapse would be held accountable “to the fullest extent the law will allow.” He also took the opportunity to call on Congress to pass funding to rebuild the bridge and reiterated that the federal government would fully foot the bill.
