President Joe Biden is expected to come to the Port of Baltimore on Wednesday to discuss how the recently passed $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal will benefit Americans.
The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives late Friday night, includes $17 billion for improvements at ports across the country. The Biden Administration said the bill will help strengthen supply chains and prevent disruptions to consumers.
The White House announced the president’s planned visit on Sunday; it will be Biden’s second trip to Baltimore since his election.
The bipartisan infrastructure deal was supported by the seven Democratic members Maryland’s Capitol Hill delegation and opposed by Rep. Andrew P. Harris (R).
On Saturday, Rep. David Trone (D), who represents Maryland’s 6th District, invited Biden to sign the deal in Cumberland, home of the Old National Road, which was the first federally funded, designed and constructed infrastructure project. Construction on the road started in Cumberland and connected America’s early eastern states to areas inland, with a terminus in Illinois.
Cumberland would be an ideal place to sign the bill, Trone said, “not simply because of its unparalleled importance in the history of our nation, but also because this legislation will be transformational for the city, county, and region.”
“Since 2017, three bridges that connect the historic Washington Street and West Side community to Cumberland’s city center have been inoperable due to a lack of infrastructure investment,” he continued. “Roads, tunnels, and rails throughout Allegany County are in desperate need of renovation and investment. With this legislation, the future of communities like Cumberland are brighter.”
The White House has not publicly announced the president’s plan to sign the infrastructure bill. Congress is expected to debate a $1.85 trillion social spending and climate bill, Biden’s signature “Build Back Better” legislation, later this month.
(Disclosure: The David and June Trone Family Foundation is a financial supporter of Maryland Matters.)
Danielle E. Gaines
Contributor
Danielle Gaines worked for Maryland Matters from September 2018 to January 2024. She covered government and politics for Maryland Matters for two years before moving into an editing position, ultimately serving as editor-in-chief for nearly three years. Previously, she spent six years at The Frederick News-Post ― as the paper’s principal government and politics reporter for half that time, covering courts and legal affairs before that. She also reported for the now-defunct The Gazette of Politics and Business in Maryland and previously worked as a county government and education reporter at The Merced Sun-Star in California’s Central Valley.
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