Biden's $100 billion disaster aid request includes money to rebuild the collapsed Baltimore bridge

abcnews.go.com:

President Joe Biden’s pending request to Congress for nearly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid includes money to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after its deadly collapse in March

BALTIMORE — President Joe Biden’s pending request for nearly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid includes money to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed under the impact of a massive container ship that lost power and veered off course in March.

Within hours of the disaster, Biden said the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect the Congress to support my effort.” He visited Baltimore in the weeks that followed and reiterated his pledge of support.

Since then, members of Maryland’s congressional delegation have been working to secure 100% federal funding to cover the nearly $2 billion in estimated reconstruction costs. The federal government would otherwise cover 90%.

In a letter Monday to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Biden said Congress must bolster funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other programs in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The request comes as lawmakers meet during a lame-duck session to finish key priorities before making way for a new Congress and the incoming Trump administration. It includes some $8 billion that would help rebuild and repair highways and bridges in more than 40 states and territories, including Maryland.

Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin said the request also includes passing legislation that would provide 100% federal funding for the bridge reconstruction. He said legislators had been looking for a “vehicle” to get that approved and were hopeful it would pass.

“The Maryland