Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who represents the area where Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge stood, said he spoke over the weekend with Speaker Mike Johnson and senior House appropriator Tom Cole as he seeks to rally support for federal funding to rebuild the bridge and reopen the Port of Baltimore.

“This is not, nor should it be, a partisan issue,” Mfume (D-Md.) said at a press conference alongside Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore. Mfume added that, in talking to Cole (R-Okla.) — a frontrunner to lead the Appropriations Committee — he got a sense of “how dedicated he is and will be to making sure that this is taken care of.”

On Republicans who expressed skepticism toward congressional funding for rebuilding the bridge, Mfume said: “Petty minds have petty thoughts. The larger base of Americans realize how valuable this port is to the national economy and to supply chains.”

All Maryland officials stressed the reconstruction phase for the bridge would be lengthy, and that they’re still in the opening stages of removing debris following the collapse of the bridge.

The White House said earlier Monday that President Joe Biden would visit the scene of the collapse later this week.

Related posts:

Pelosi concludes secret visit to Ukraine DOJ charges Proud Boys leaders with seditious conspiracy over Jan. 6 attack The Black conservative who’s challenging Stefanik for House GOP leadership Pelosi says Graham’s abortion bill exposes ‘conflict within the Republican party’ Democrats dream of a drama-free fall Santos scandal crashes into McCarthy speakership battle House committee staffers face no pay if speaker isn’t decided by Jan. 13, officials warn Conservatives’ latest McCarthy ask: A broad Biden admin investigation Warner and Rubio together call for document oversight for national security Don’t believe the House GOP hype yet — it still doesn’t have the votes to stop a shutdown Your guide to an impeachment inquiry: Breaking down the GOP’s pursuit of Biden Bad vibes for Bob Good