Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, late at night, a ship being guided by people working for the Port Authority of Baltimore lost control of a gigantic ship. Unable to propel it or guide it, they immediately called the Transportation Authority, as Mr. Harris pointed out. The good news, for we don't know how many people, but perhaps hundreds, was that the Transportation Authority acted quickly. We had a tragedy in the loss of six lives working on that bridge to keep it in good and safe shape. Tragically, for them, that gigantic ship that had lost power and the ability to steer took down a significant portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused their deaths. For that, we lament, and we send our thoughts to their families. That was the immediate tragic effect, but the effect on this bridge and the sections of the bridge falling into the channel and precluding ingress and egress had international consequences, certainly consequences to the State of Maryland and certainly consequences to the United States of America. This port is one of the busiest ports in America. As the previous speakers have said, it carries a variety of critically necessary products and creates a dynamic economy not only around the port itself and in Maryland but internationally. I rise to join my colleagues. You might be surprised, Mr. Speaker, that this is bipartisan and nonpartisan in approach, but it is because, as Mr. Harris, again, said: This is not a partisan tragedy.…”