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/ CBS Baltimore
BALTIMORE – A Maryland bill that would provide relief to port workers and businesses impacted by the Key Bridge collapse was unanimously approved in the Senate.
The Port Act, being fast-tracked through the General Assembly, will be voted on by the House of Delegates.
Maryland lawmakers hope to have the bill passed by the end of the week with the 2024 legislative session winding down.
Senate President Bill Ferguson introduced the bill on Friday, just days after the tragic Key Bridge collapse that killed six construction workers and blocked off access to the Port of Baltimore, shutting down operations for many businesses and leaving thousands out of work.
If passed, the emergency relief bill would be funded through the state’s rainy day fund and would do three things:
“What this allows the administration to do is to have the flexibility to provide an income replacement program that is a temporary relief for, as the channel gets cleared, there’s a better opportunity for these workers to put food on their table, pay their bills, pay their mortgage,” Ferguson said.
If the bill is approved by the House, it will then be sent to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk for final authorization.
I was raised in Ohio, but made stops in Virginia and North Carolina, before landing in Maryland.
First published on April 3, 2024 / 9:10 PM EDT
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©2024 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
