President Joe Biden said Friday that his administration is taking immediate steps to reduce the inconvenience at Baltimore's port and support workers and small companies affected by the port shutdown after visiting the scene of the catastrophic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
Biden announced after an aerial tour that the federal government will pay more than $8 million in grant monies to enhance the port at Baltimore's Sparrows Point, undamaged by the bridge fall, so it can accommodate more ships.
The president also stated that the Small Business Administration would offer low-interest loans to small firms harmed by last week's port standstill and that his administration would pay grants to workers.
"I’m here to say your nation has your back," Biden stated. "The damage is devastating and our hearts are still breaking," he said, adding that six bridge pothole workers died.
He stated, "I’ve come here to grieve with you," joined by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and other Maryland and Baltimore leaders. "It’s not the same, but I know a little bit about what it’s like to lose a piece of your soul."
Biden renewed his request for full financing for a new bridge from Congress. He also noted that two small channels had been created for ships clearing the wreckage and the Army Corps of Engineers' anticipated timeframe for port reopening stated Thursday.
The Army Corps of Engineers aims to “open a limited access channel for barge container service and some vessels that move automobiles and farm equipment by the end of April” and “restore the port to normal capacity by the end of May,” the White House said.
In addition to the airborne tour, Biden received a Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers response report and was set to meet with the relatives of the six workers who died.
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