Governor Moore to Republicans on Baltimore Bridge Funding: ‘It’s Not a Political Issue… It’s a Patriotic Responsibility’

TheGrio caught up with Moore after the Maryland governor met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and members of Congress on Capitol Hill.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., met with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on the U.S. Capitol to discuss efforts to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore despite opposition from House Republicans.

“This is not a political issue,” Moore told the Grio newspaper. “It’s not biased. It’s a patriotic responsibility.”

He added: “We have six people that we lost in Maryland, but how can we make sure we honor that?”

Maryland’s governor met with the Jeffries family on Thursday shortly after the House Minority Leader’s weekly news conference.

During the conference, Jeffries told the Grio that House Democrats are leading the hassle to “be able to ensure that the city of Baltimore, the people of Baltimore, and certainly immigrant families who have experienced bereavement have the support that they need in this moment of great crisis.”

Moore told the Grio that he was “grateful” for the chance to talk to Jeffries and other members of Congress.

“We just continue to emphasize the importance of the bridge not only to the state of Maryland, but the importance of the bridge to the economy of this country,” Moore said. “I’m grateful that the leader (Jeffries) has already been incredibly supportive of this work.”

Thursday’s meeting got here after Maryland’s Democratic congressional delegation, U.S. Reps. Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Steny Hoyer, John Sarbanes and Dutch Ruppersberger appeared on the House floor to urge their Republican colleagues to support the hassle to rebuilding the bridge on Wednesday.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who also spoke on the House floor together with her Democratic colleagues, told the Grio on Thursday that it was necessary for her to take the stand because she is from Baltimore.

“I’m concerned about what happened to the bridge and what it means for our country and our economy, for the jobs and the lives of the people who lost their lives there,” Pelosi said.

On March 26, at roughly 1:30 a.m., the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed when a large cargo ship struck certainly one of the bridge’s support beams, causing the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River. The tragedy claimed the lives of six migrant construction staff.

“Tens of thousands of people whose jobs depend on the port… we have a port that is responsible for approximately $70 billion in economic activity not only in the state but across the country,” Governor Moore said.

He added that Baltimore has “the largest port in the country for new passenger cars and heavy trucks and agricultural products.”

After the bridge collapse, President Joe Biden announced that his administration would spend $60 million in relief funds to rebuild the bridge.

However, some House Republicans refused to support a bill providing additional funding. Some even went to date as to blame the tragedy on diversity, equity and inclusion.

U.S. Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Utah, he tweeted message with a headshot of Baltimore Port Commissioner Karenthia A. Barber – who happens to be a black woman. The congressman wrote: “This is what happens when we have governors who put diversity ahead of the well-being and safety of their citizens.”

Others joined Lyman in calling Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott “DEI is hiring” on social media.

Moore told TheGrio that he “didn’t take the time” to address the far-right attacks, as an alternative prioritizing “honoring the families and bringing closure to them… and making sure that we support the people who have been impacted.”

Despite the refusal of some House Republicans to support the Biden-Harris administration’s plan to rebuild the Baltimore bridge, U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, R-N.Y., told the Grio that he has “absolute faith that Biden will somehow give money to Wes Moore Quick.”

“Baltimore will get what it needs,” Bowman said. “The administration will make sure of it.”

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