Biden In Baltimore: 'I'm Going To Get America Off The Sidelines'

BALTIMORE, MD — President Joseph Biden promoted his infrastructure plan Wednesday at the Port of Baltimore.

His visit came days after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

"This is the ultimate blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America," Biden said, speaking at Seagirt Marine Terminal.

The legislation will put $17 billion toward port infrastructure and waterways, including $240 million in grant funding available by the end of 2021 for modernizing ports and marine highways, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the White House.

Biden pledged to "modernize our ports" by reducing congestion, addressing maintenance backlogs, deploying state-of-the-art technology and increasing efficiency.

Watch the live stream provided by the White House, which is displayed below.

The Port of Baltimore will be getting a $125 million grant to allow double-stacking in the Howard Street Tunnel and reduce the bottleneck there, Biden said.

Maryland was granted $125 million for the Howard Street Tunnel project from federal officials in 2019.

When it comes to manufacturing, Biden said: "I'm going to get America off the sidelines" by bringing union jobs to the United States.

Biden will sign the legislation Monday, according to WBAL Radio.

See Also:

• Port Of Baltimore Leads Response To Supply Chain Crisis: Hogan
• 4 Cranes Stop Traffic On Way To Port Of Baltimore
• Baltimore Receives $125M For Howard Street Tunnel

In Baltimore, Biden planned to survey current operations and "discuss future projects that will benefit from Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal," Port Executive Director William Doyle reported.

Biden picked the Port of Baltimore to visit because it is an "example of the kind of investments that are needed from both the private and the public sector," according to the Baltimore Sun.

Exec Dir Doyle explains how the PoB has welcomed diverted ships from congested ports and has recently added two new container services on ⁦@MSCCargo⁩ and ⁦@Maersk⁩ as other ports face supply chain issues. #Open4BizMD pic.twitter.com/ebEBPx5Ppn
— Port of Baltimore (@portofbalt) November 10, 2021

Recently, Seagirt Marine Terminal welcomed four ultra-large NeoPanamax container cranes that will grow the Port of Baltimore's container business by enabling it to accommodate super-size ships and complement the Howard Street Tunnel project. The cranes, which are electric without any diesel emissions, are expected to be operational in 2022.

PETA was at the Port of Baltimore Wednesday, calling for the president to modernize another area — scientific research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The NIH "squanders more than $19 billion annually on animal studies — despite clear evidence that harming animals is not providing cures for what ails humans," PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo said in a statement.

Between 3:15 and 4 p.m., PETA established a presence along Pratt Street with people dressed as dinosaurs.

"PETA wants [to ensure] President Joe Biden appoints a visionary director to lead NIH, one who embraces state-of-the-art, high-tech research, such as 3D tissue models and super computers," Guillermo said, "rather than another 'dinosaur' who funds outdated animal experiments."

Get news alerts from Baltimore Patch.

See Also: Biden To Visit Port Of Baltimore To Talk Infrastructure