Julián Castro

Former Housing and Urban Development secretary
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Julian Castro dropped out of the presidential race on January 2, 2020. This page is no longer being updated.
Castro is the only Latino in the 2020 field and is running a campaign focused on addressing immigration and education. He joined Obama’s Cabinet in 2014.
Stanford University, B.A., 1996; Harvard Law School, J.D., 2000
September 16, 1974
Erica Castro
Roman Catholic
Cristian and Carina
Fellow, University of Texas at Austin, 2017;
HUD secretary, 2014-2017;
San Antonio mayor, 2009-2014;
Founded the Law Offices of Julián Castro, PLLC, 2005;
San Antonio City Council, 2001-2005;
Attorney at the San Antonio office of law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, 2000-2002

CASTRO IN THE NEWS

Julian Castro Fast Facts
Updated 2:42 PM ET, Fri Sep 1, 2023
Here is a look at the life of Julián Castro, former Housing and Urban Development secretary and 2020 presidential candidate. Personal Birth date: September 16, 1974 Birth place: San Antonio, Texas Birth name: Julián Castro Father: Jesse Guzman, political activist and educator Mother: Maria "Rosie" del Rosario Castro, political activist and college administrator Marriage: Erica (Lira) Castro (2007-present) Children: Cristian and Carina Education: Stanford University, B.A. in political science and communications, 1996; Harvard Law School, J.D., 2000 Religion: Roman Catholic Other Facts His first name is pronounced "hoo-lee-AHN." Castro's parents never married and separated when he was 8 years old. He was raised primarily by his mother and his grandmother, Victoria Castro. Has spoken out in favor of same-sex marriage and of affirmative action, even telling The New York Times that it helped him get into Stanford. Castro does not speak fluent Spanish, writing in his 2018 memoir that his mother spoke English at home, like many immigrants at the time, and that he declined to take Spanish classes in school because he spoke it with his grandmother. Castro is one minute older than his identical twin brother, Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro. Timeline 1994 - Works as a White House intern. 2000-2002 - Attorney at the San Antonio office of law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld. 2001-2005 - Councilman representing District 7 on the San Antonio City Council. At age 26, Castro is the youngest councilman ever elected in the city's history. 2005 - Founds the Law Offices of Julián Castro, PLLC. June 2005 - Narrowly loses to former Judge Phil Hardberger in the San Antonio mayor's race. May 9, 2009 - Elected mayor of San Antonio with 56.23% of the vote. June 1, 2009-July 22, 2014 - Serves as San Antonio mayor, winning reelection in 2011 and 2013. September 4, 2012 - In Charlotte, North Carolina, delivers the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, becoming the first Latino to do so. May 23, 2014 - President Barack Obama announces plans to nominate Castro as the next secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). July 9, 2014 - The US Senate confirms Castro as HUD secretary in a 71-26 vote. July 28, 2014-January 20, 2017 - Serves as the 16th secretary of HUD. July 18, 2016 - The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) says that Castro violated the Hatch Act, a federal law prohibiting federal workers acting in their official capacity from attempting to influence elections, when he praised Hillary Clinton in an interview with Yahoo's Katie Couric. In his response, Castro acknowledges that he'd violated the act. September 1, 2017 - Joins the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin as the Dean's Distinguished Fellow and Fellow of the Dávila Chair in International Trade Policy. October 2018 - Castro's memoir, "An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream," is published. December 12, 2018 - Announces the launch of a presidential exploratory committee. January 12, 2019 - Officially announces his bid for the Democratic nomination for president in San Antonio. January 2, 2020 - Castro announces the end of his campaign via Twitter. January 6, 2020 - Castro endorses Elizabeth Warren for president. July 10, 2020 - Castro announces his stepmother, Alice Guzman, died of Covid-19 on July 9, 2020. July 12, 2021 - MSNBC announces that Castro has been hired as a political analyst. March 21, 2022 - It is announced that Castro will teach a course in the fall at Harvard Law School.
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STANCES ON THE ISSUES

climate crisis
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Castro released a “People and Planet First Plan” in September 2019, calling for a combined $10 trillion in federal, state, local and private investments over 10 years to shift the US to clean energy. Like other candidates, Castro ties the shift from fossil fuels to job creating, estimating that the influx of investment will create 10 million jobs over a decade. But Castro’s plan also focuses on the racial impacts of climate change, citing a series of studies that found those most directly impacted by issues like toxic waste, asthma and pollution are more likely to be people of color and more vulnerable communities. Under the plan, coal-generated electricity will be phased out by 2030 and replaced by zero-emission sources and all new light- and medium-duty vehicles will be zero-emissions. By 2045, the United States will be net-zero emissions and by 2050, Castro forecasts, the world will be at net-zero carbon emissions, led by the United States. Castro has proposed ending subsidies to oil companies and has backed the Green New Deal, the broad plan to address renewable-energy infrastructure and climate change proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. He has also pushed relying more on wind and solar energy, two industries growing in his home state. Castro says his first executive action would recommit the US to staying in the Paris climate accord, a landmark 2015 deal on global warming targets that Trump has pledged to abandon. More on Castro’s climate crisis policy
economy
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Castro in October 2019 unveiled a “Unions for All” plan that aims to more than double union membership. It would require large, publicly traded corporations to reserve at least one-third of board seats for workers, who would be elected by employees who are not managers. His plan would prohibit anti-competitive labor practices, including noncompete agreements “that limit worker freedom and mobility.” He would end “employee misclassification,” according to the plan, which affects short-term contract workers and “gig economy” workers. A parallel “Dignity for Domestic Workers” plan includes a push for passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act, which would strengthen overtime protections, end exclusion from anti-harassment and anti-discrimination laws, and include health and safety protections. The plan would establish portable benefits, including paid family leave, medical leave and health care. It would protect workers who report crimes or labor violations from retaliation from legal authorities or employers. Castro supports raising the top marginal tax rate, though he hasn’t specified a number, and has called for undoing Trump’s 2017 tax package. He has said that he believes it “makes sense to renegotiate agreements like” the North American Free Trade Agreement, the deal with Canada and Mexico, but that he disagreed with “folks who think that we should completely scrap our trade agreements.” He’s also said he did not support the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an 11-nation deal negotiated under Obama that Trump withdrew from in one of his first acts as President, as it was originally negotiated. More on Castro’s economic policy
education
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Castro’s plan calls for universal prekindergarten, an issue that was central to his time as mayor of San Antonio. The plan also calls for: federal investment to combat teacher attrition, shortages and underpayment; student loan debt revisions; and free tuition for public colleges and universities and for technical and vocational education. Castro has proposed investing $150 billion in upgrading high school facilities, creating programs so students have the chance to earn college credit in high school at no additional cost and increasing the prevalence of trade programs in high school. More on Castro’s education policy
gun violence
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Castro has been a longtime gun control advocate and currently supports three key policies: renewing the ban on so-called assault weapons, curbing the use of high-capacity magazines and instituting universal background checks. Castro, as part of his education plan, has supported the creation of so-called “red flag” laws, which allow families and police to petition a judge to temporarily block someone’s access to firearms if there is credible concern they might hurt themselves or others. Castro, when speaking about the issue, often leans on the fact he is from Texas, a state that embraces gun culture and hunting. But he’s argued that it is possible to “have common sense gun reform and still have the Second Amendment in place.”
healthcare
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Castro supports the single-payer “Medicare for All” proposal, which would create a national government-backed health care plan and essentially eliminate the private insurance industry, and has suggested paying for it by raising the top marginal income tax rate. He has said, however, that while people should “have the ability to enroll in Medicare,” they should also be allowed to have private plans or supplemental insurance. Castro did not raise his hand during the first Democratic debate when asked if he supports abolishing private insurance. “I believe that Medicare should be available to all who want it, but if you want to have a supplemental private health insurance plan that is strong, then I think you should be allowed to do that,” he told CNN in June 2019.
immigration
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In April 201, Castro released his People First Immigration plan, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for so-called Dreamers – undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US as minors – as well as other undocumented immigrants who “live, work and raise families in communities throughout the United States” and immigrants who are in the country under temporary protected status. The plan also aims to expand the number of asylum seekers admitted to the United States, strengthen the family migration system and decriminalize crossing illegally into the United States. His plan would reorganize Immigration and Customs Enforcement by “splitting the agency in half and re-assigning enforcement functions” within it. He has not called for abolishing the agency but does want an investigation into its role, along with those of Customs and Border Protection and the Justice Department, in the Trump administration’s policies that led to family separations at the border. Castro succinctly laid out his stance on immigration during the first Democratic debate, saying he would do away with the Trump administration’s immigration policies, including the ones that limit the number of asylum seekers at ports of entry and force them to wait in Mexico for the adjudication of their cases. More on Castro’s immigration policy

LATEST POLITICAL NEWS

March 28, 2024 - Baltimore Key Bridge collapse
Updated 12:00 AM ET, Fri Mar 29, 2024
Our live coverage has ended. Follow the latest news on the Baltimore bridge collapse or read through the updates below.  The federal government has given Maryland officials the $60 million requested to cover the first steps of responding to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a Federal Highway Administration news release. Federal Highway Administration chief Shailen Bhatt said the emergency funding would go toward removing debris, rerouting traffic and ultimately rebuilding the bridge. Here's what else the authorities said in a news briefing this evening: Four directives to recovery: Gov. Wes Moore outlined four main priorities as Maryland looks to recover after the bridge collapse. The directives include: Continued focus on efforts to recover the construction workers presumed dead "to bring a sense of closure to these families," open the channel and restart traffic to the port, taking care of those affected, rebuilding the Key Bridge. Murky water conditions: Moore said the "water is so dark, and debris is so dense, that in most instances our divers cannot see more than a foot or two in front of them." Major resources mobilized: The Army Corps of Engineers is moving the largest crane in the Eastern Seaboard to Baltimore to help clear the channel, and it is expect to arrive later on Thursday evening, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. Clearing the channel has been an important goal so trade and traffic through the port can resume. The Army Corps of Engineers plan to cover the full cost of clearing the channel where Baltimore's Key Bridge collapsed, Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Thursday. One larger vehicle detected underwater: There's at least one vehicle of a large size that has been detected underwater, and it is encapsulated by the superstructure of the bridge, concrete and other things, according to Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., the superintendent of Maryland State Police. Monitoring possible leaks and pollution: Over 2,400 feet of boom have been deployed to contain any leaks of pollution in the aftermath of the collapse of the Key Bridge, Moore said. Separately, 14 containers on the ship were impacted, and they contained items like soap and perfume, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said, adding that he did not have information on whether any of those materials went overboard. Air monitors are in place to track any potential threats and they have not picked up any threats so far, Gilreath said. ##Catch Up## There's at least one vehicle of a large size that has been detected underwater, according to Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., the superintendent of Maryland State Police. "There's at least one vehicle, larger in size, that is completely encapsulated by the superstructure of the bridge, concrete," among other things, Butler said Thursday evening. "It's going to take some time to get to that, and it's going to take some time to do that carefully" before divers can go to recover that vehicle, he added. There have been over 2,400 feet of boom deployed to contain any leaks of pollution in the aftermath of the collapse of the Key Bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Thursday. He said he personally did not see any sheen on the water when he went to assess the situation on site. Remember: 56 containers with hazardous materials were found on the vessel. There are 14 containers on the ship were impacted, and they contained items like soap and perfume, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said at the briefing, adding that he did not have information on whether any of those materials went overboard. Air monitors are in place to track any potential threats and they have not picked up any threats so far, Gilreath added. Baltimore's mayor said he is still "hopeful" the bodies of the other workers presumed dead will be recovered. Authorities announced on Wednesday they were pausing search and recovery efforts for the four other workers presumed dead because debris made it unsafe for divers to continue. Once this next phase of salvage operations is complete and the debris is cleared, divers will search for more remains. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said that during the salvage operation, he hopes "we are able to recover those who remain missing and bring them home to their families. The mayor said he directed his administration to work with the governor’s office “on any and every effort that must be taken.” The Army Corps of Engineers will cover the full cost of clearing the channel where Baltimore's Key Bridge collapsed, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Thursday. "We all recognize that getting the Port of Baltimore running again at full speed is a priority given all the jobs that are associated with it, all the small businesses, all the other businesses," Sen. Van Hollen said at Thursday's news briefing. "And as the governor pointed out, this is not just a Maryland issue, it's a national and global question." The Army Corps of Engineers is moving the largest crane in the Eastern Seaboard to Baltimore to help clear the channel, and it is expected to arrive Thursday evening, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. "Under the leadership of Col. (Estee S.) Pinchasin, the Army Corps is moving the largest crane in the Eastern Seaboard to Baltimore to help us," Moore said at a news conference. "It is estimated that will arrive later this evening." "It's a 1,000-ton crane coming around midnight," Sen. Chris Van Hollen said at the same news conference. "And another 400-ton crane coming Saturday for the operations to clear the channel." The post was updated with information about the crane from Sen. Van Hollen. Officials working to remove the collapsed Key Bridge from the channel are conducting a full assessment of all pieces of debris before they can lift them out of the water, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath. This assessment is critical in figuring out how to cut the bridge into the right size pieces so cranes can lift them out, he said. “We are doing those assessments right now with underwater surveys, with engineering teams back in unified command,” Gilreath said, adding that the assessment is in coordination with several other partners, including the US Army Corp of Engineers. “That is our number one priority is to reopen the Port of Baltimore as fast as we can, and do it safely,” he added. Water conditions are hindering divers' visibility as they conduct recovery operations, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Thursday. "That water is so dark, and debris is so dense, that in most instances our divers cannot see more than a foot or two in front of them," Moore said at a news briefing. "So much of the operation is simply feel." Maryland officials are moving at "full speed" to accomplish four main priorities in the days following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Gov. Wes Moore said Thursday. Here are the directives mandated by Moore: Continue to keep a focus on recovery efforts. Moore said it is "our obligation to bring a sense of closure to these families." Officials said they recovered the bodies of two people on Wednesday, but recovery efforts for the four other workers were paused because of unsafe diving conditions. Open the channel and restart traffic to the port. The governor stressed minimizing economic impacts where possible, saying "the health of the Maryland economy and the national economy depends on it." Take care of all the people who have been affected by the crisis. This means families of the people presumed dead, the workers, first responders — “that means everybody,” Moore said. Rebuilding the Key Bridge. The governor promised to give regular updates on all of these directives but said they will take a long time to accomplish. "This work will not take hours. This work will not take days. This work will not just take weeks. We have a very long road ahead of us," Moore said. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, joined by state and federal officials, is holding a news conference for the latest updates on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The federal government has given Maryland officials the $60 million requested to cover the first steps of responding to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a Federal Highway Administration news release. Federal transportation officials said Thursday that Maryland Gov. Wes Moore requested the money as a “down payment” toward cleaning up and rebuilding the bridge, the release said.  Federal Highway Administration chief Shailen Bhatt said the emergency funding would go toward removing debris, rerouting traffic, and ultimately rebuilding the bridge. The state can later request additional funding. The state’s congressional delegation said they would press fellow lawmakers to fund the rebuilding project.   Dive operations and vehicle recovery have been paused at the Key Bridge collapse site due to the submerged wreckage and debris causing hazardous conditions, according to a Unified Command news release.   The Unified Command established a 2000-yard Safety Zone for the M/V Dali recovery efforts, a statement released Thursday from Unified Command read, adding that on-scene crews continue to assess and monitor for spilled oils and hazardous substances.  “The Unified Command is addressing environmental concerns with response teams conducting visual inspections of water quality and collecting samples for testing," the release read.   Of the 56 containers on the vessel that contained hazardous materials, 13 were impacted and assessed by an industrial hygienist for potential hazards. According to the statement, the Unified Command found soap products, perfume products or not otherwise specified resin. No volatile organic compounds or flammable vapors have been found around the ship as air monitoring continues around it, the release added. The Unified Command includes the US Coast Guard, US Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Department of Environment, Maryland Transpiration Authority, emergency management company Witt O'Brien’s and Maryland State Police.  Marcel Muise, the National Transportation Safety Board investigator in charge, on Wednesday provided the following timeline of events based on the recovered voyage data recorder (VDR). Approximately 12:39 a.m. ET: The ship departed from Seagirt Marine Terminal. By 1:07 a.m.: The ship had entered the Fort McHenry Channel. 1:24:59 a.m.: Numerous audible alarms were recorded on the ship's bridge audio. At about the same time, VDR sensor data ceased recording. The VDR audio continued to record using the redundant power source, Muise said. 1:26:02 a.m.: VDR resumed recording sensor data and during this time, steering commands and rudder orders were recorded on the audio. 1:26:39 a.m.: The ship's pilot made a general very high frequency (VHF) radio call for nearby tugs to assist. At about this time, Muise said, the pilot association dispatcher phoned the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) duty officer regarding the blackout. Around 1:27:04 a.m.: The pilot ordered the Dali to drop the port anchor and ordered additional steering commands. Around 1:27:25 a.m.: The pilot issued a radio call over the VHF radio, reporting that the Dali had lost all power and was approaching the bridge. Around this time, the MDTA data shows the following also occurred: Their duty officer radioed two of their units on scene due to construction on the bridge — one on each side of the bridge — and ordered them to close traffic on the bridge. All lanes were then shut down by MDTA. Around 1:29 a.m.: The ship's speed over ground was recorded at just under 8 miles per hour. At about 1:29:33, the VDR audio recorded sounds consistent with the collision of the bridge. Additionally, around this time, MDTA dash cameras show the bridge lights extinguishing. 1:29:39 a.m.: The pilot reported the bridge down over the VFH radio to the Coast Guard. Authorities in Maryland are starting salvage operations on Wednesday after a cargo ship collided with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this week. Six people are presumed dead after the bridge collapsed. Officials found two bodies during the last of search and recovery operations on Tuesday, according to the state police. Here's what we know: The victims: The six people presumed dead were from Mexico Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The bodies of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, who immigrated to the US from Mexico, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, originally from Guatemala, have been recovered. The two workers, who were filling potholes on the bridge when it collapsed, were later found trapped in a red pickup truck in about 25 feet of water. Recovery efforts: Authorities are pausing search efforts for the four other workers presumed dead, because vehicles are encased in concrete and other debris have made it unsafe for divers. Once salvage operations clear the debris, divers will search for more remains. Next steps: The US Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving has been tapped to lead the salvage operations and remove submerged parts of the bridge, a spokesperson said. More than 1,000 US Army Corps of Engineers personnel were also activated to help clear the critical shipping channel where the bridge collapsed. The first step in that process is to get the steel truss, or steel pieces of the bridge, out. The White House said a heavy lift crane vessel will arrive later Thursday to help clear debris, senior adviser Tom Perez said. Investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the probe into the fatal incident. The NTSB started interviewing the 21 crew members and two pilots on board the ship and collected documents and other evidence, according to the company that managed the vessel, Synergy Marine Group. The investigation could take 12 to 24 months to complete, the NTSB chair said. Rebuilding: Maryland officials are assessing how much it will cost to rebuild the bridge, Sen. Chris Van Hollen said, adding that 90% of funding will be covered by the Federal Highway Administration's emergency fund. The state's Department of Transportation has already requested $60 million in federal funding to clean up the wreckage. The incident will also likely lead to billions of dollars in liability claims. Marine insurance companies will be on the hook for much of the costs. Economic impacts: Dozens of vessels are still scheduled to arrive at the Port of Baltimore as of Thursday morning, according to maritime AI company Windward. Other ports in the area are stepping in. The governors of New York and New Jersey said the Port Authority can take on additional cargo to try to minimize supply chain disruptions. Reaction: The Baltimore Orioles held a moment of science for the bridge workers at their season opener Thursday afternoon. Synergy Marine Group also extended its "deepest sympathies" to the families of the two people whose bodies were found. ##Catch Up## A small family business is rallying behind one of its employees, Isabel Franco, who says her husband, Jose Mynor Lopez, went missing after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on Tuesday. The Owls Corner Café, located in Dundalk, Maryland, started a GoFundMe for Franco and her family after officials called off the rescue mission and said the missing people were presumed dead, according to owner Lilly Ordonez. The page reached its goal of $25,000 in less than a day, she added. The organizers of the page plan on distributing additional funds raised to other families impacted by the tragedy. The café will be closed for the rest of the week out of respect for Lopez and his family. “Jose was a great man, husband and dad,” Ordonez told CNN on Wednesday. “An extremely hard-working individual, a great provider and family man.”  Ordonez said she is very close to the family and that Franco is in a state of shock. “She’s barely sleeping or eating. She’s by the phone waiting for news,” she said. Lopez’s two young children don’t understand what’s going on, but his 17-year-old daughter is acting as a great support system for her mother, Ordonez told CNN. CNN has reached out to local authorities to confirm Lopez is among the missing. CNN’s Caroll Alvarado contributed to this report. The Baltimore Orioles honored victims of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse before the team’s season opening game against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park on Thursday.  The Orioles held a moment of silence to honor victims, first responders and those impacted by the fatal incident.  The television broadcast showed fans, players, and others bowing their heads with hats off in a short moment of reflection. Meanwhile, the Morgan State University Choir performed a rendition of the national anthem. The Orioles lowered an American flag from the batter’s eye section of the stadium during the anthem.  According to MLB, “The flag is a replica of the one that flew over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote the 'Star-Spangled Banner.'” A previously scheduled workout and rally that had been planned for Tuesday was canceled in wake of the bridge collapse.  Immigrant Hispanic workers face a disproportionate risk of occupational death in the United States, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures — and the death rate is rising. Foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers made up 8% of the employed US workforce in 2021 but 14% of the work-related deaths, data shows. The six construction workers found dead or presumed dead from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse were all of Hispanic origin, from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Data shows nearly half of foreign-born employees in the United States — more than 12.5 million people — were Hispanic in 2021, including legal and undocumented immigrants, refugees, and temporary workers. And while this group’s working population increased 17% over a 10-year period, the occupational death among them grew 42%. On the night of the Baltimore bridge collapse, a worker with Brawner Builders requested a last-minute shift change, which he says saved his life. Moises Diaz told CNN via text he worked with all of the victims of the bridge collapse and that they would have likely been on their break at the time of impact early Tuesday morning.  Some background: Brawner Builders Executive Vice President Jeffrey Pritzker told CNN seven employees were on the bridge and just one survived. “These were wonderful young men. They were doing a tough job. These guys were hardworking wonderful people and now they’re gone,” Pritzker said. The US Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) is currently serving as the lead for salvage operations for the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a spokesperson said on Thursday.  "The team is currently in the process of mobilizing a 1000-ton lift capacity derrick barge, 400-ton lift capacity revolving crane barge, and 160T revolving crane as well as support vessels,” the spokesperson said. "SUPSALV will work with its contracted support to salvage and remove submerged portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.' The spokesperson also said that the Navy provided a MH-60S Seahawk from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, and "one small boat" from the Navy Reserve Center Baltimore, on March 26, in the search and rescue efforts after the bridge’s collapse. The Maryland Department of Transportation has requested $60 million in federal emergency relief funding to assist in costs related to cleaning up the wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and rebuilding it, according to a Thursday news release. The funds will “lay the foundation” for recovery, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. Maryland Transportation Sec. Paul J. Wiedefeld sent a letter of intent informing the Federal Highway Administration of its plans to request funding to help with the costs of “debris removal, demolition, detour to restore, emergency repairs and design and reconstruction on I-695 and the Francis Scott Key Bridge.” The letter sent Wednesday to Shailen Bhatt, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, said preliminary estimates of the damage are being assembled and emergency operations are underway.  Tuesday’s catastrophe was not the first time a vessel has slammed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was built in the 1970s. Four decades ago, another container ship that also lost power hit the same bridge — and it stood strong. The dramatic difference in outcomes between the two accidents is an example of the dangers caused by the massive increase in shipping vessel size in the intervening decades. A CNN review of public records and interviews with about a dozen bridge and shipping experts show that hundreds of bridges over US waterways were built decades ago when container ships were a fraction of the size and weight they are today. Bridges of the era when the Key Bridge was built weren’t designed to protect against collisions with ships as big as the Dali, the vessel that caused the Baltimore to topple. The Dali has a capacity of about 10,000 20-foot equivalent units of cargo — compared to the approximate cap of about 2,500 20-foot equivalent units that could be carried by container ships in the 1970s, CNN has reported. Here's how that stacks up: A heavy lift crane vessel will arrive at the Port of Baltimore later Thursday to help clear debris from the collapsed Francis Scott Key bridge, a senior White House adviser said, as the federal government reiterates its pledge to surge resources. Tom Perez, the director of intergovernmental affairs, said that while salvage work has begun, officials are "incredibly sensitive to the notion that this is also the resting place for four fathers, for four brothers, for four sons." About the victims: Four workers who were on the bridge when it collapsed are presumed dead. The Maryland State Police said two bodies were recovered on Wednesday. During an appearance on MSNBC, Perez reflected on visiting with "inconsolable" families of some of the victims this week, stressing the urgency with which officials are working to recover the remaining bodies.  “It’s so hard … The most fundamental right any worker has when they go to work is to come home safe and sound. And they didn't,” he said, recounting that one spouse repeatedly told him, “I just want his body.” The workers were all immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Perez said the White House is working with family members abroad on the possibility of a humanitarian parole process for them to come to the US “for a limited period of time.” The massive cargo ship crash into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore will likely lead to billions of dollars in liability claims. Marine insurance companies will be on the hook for much of the costs. With various owners and companies involved – and with some maritime laws predating even the Titanic sinking – untangling the web, figuring out who owes what, and addressing the damages from both lives lost and to physical structures will be complex. And paying for it will be no simple task. It's still too early to know how much the final bill for damages and rebuilding, but insurers will have to foot the bill. The Dali ship is owned by Grace Ocean Private, a Singapore-based company, and insured by the Britannia Protection and Indemnity Club. Britannia is one of the dozen marine insurance member clubs under the International Group of P&I Clubs, a consortium that provides marine liability coverage for 90% of ocean freight and pools liability claims among members. (The International Group of P&I Clubs did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.) These insurance companies are backed by insurance companies of their own – a type of business known as a reinsurer. Around 80 different reinsurers provide around $3 billion in coverage to the Dali’s insurers, according to Moody’s analyst Brendan Holmes. Since the losses will be spread across so many insurers, it’s unlikely to bankrupt any of the companies or cause a major bump in insurance prices, he said. Read more about the challenges paying for the bridge reconstruction here. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said that Key Bridge workers need to be protected following the span's collapse in Baltimore. "When we look at the impact of the Port of Baltimore and what that bridge represents — we're talking about upwards of 8,000 workers. This is a core economic engine for our state, and we have to make sure our workers are protected," Moore said when asked about preserving workers' wages during a news conference for the Orioles' opening day at Camden Yards. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says there is a "very long road ahead" for rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge. He said leaders from multiple local, state and federal authorities are gathering funds to rebuild the bridge. "This work is not going to take hours, this work is not going to take days, this work is not going to take weeks; we have a very long road ahead of us," he said. Speaking at a news conference ahead of the Orioles' home opener at Camden Yards, Moore said reconstruction would require the assistance of everyone in the region. “I’m calling on everybody to do their part. In this game, nobody gets to sit on the sidelines,” he said. "Together, again we are going to have another reopening day — and that will be the reopening of the Francis Scott Key Bridge," he said. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says "we are thinking about the families" of the victims who lost their lives in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse earlier this week. "Our hearts are with the families," Moore said at a news conference ahead of the Orioles' home opener at Camden Yards Thursday. "And to all the families, we are so sorry for this tragedy." Remember: Officials recovered the bodies of two construction workers Wednesday after the bridge collapse. They have been identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Guatemala.  The six people who are presumed dead were from Mexico Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, according to Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., the superintendent of Maryland State Police.  Sen. Chris Van Hollen laid out the next steps for covering the cost of the collapse of the Baltimore Key Bridge, telling reporters this morning that an assessment is underway right now to determine the full cost of recovery. Here is the breakdown of how the Maryland Democrat said the costs will be covered: Emergency Fund: About 90% of the bridge’s reconstruction will be covered by the Federal Highway Administration's emergency fund. That fund is backfilled with about $100 million a year through appropriations and currently has roughly $950 million in it. Other projects also rely on this fund, but Van Hollen pointed out that the cost of rebuilding will take years, so the fund will be replenished throughout the rebuilding process through annual appropriations. It’s possible Congress may need to allocate more to it in upcoming years, but his underlying point is there is time to keep those funds replenished. Van Hollen said the state of Maryland sent a letter yesterday notifying the federal government that it is going to seek money from the emergency relief fund.  Supplemental request: Van Hollen and Sen. Ben Cardin, also from Maryland, are working to establish what will be needed as part of a supplemental request for the remaining 10% of the cost of bridge reconstruction that isn’t covered by the emergency fund. He expects they will work swiftly when Congress returns, but he did not guarantee a supplemental would pass in the next work period. Offsetting costs: Van Hollen argued against offsets in spending that some Republicans are calling for, saying “this is an emergency situation and we’ve always addressed emergencies through supplementals.” Clearing the blocked channel: Van Hollen said that the other priority that has to be dealt with is they have to clear the channel. He says that the Army Core of Engineers will cover the full cost of that piece of the recovery.   Carlos Suazo Sandoval, the brother of one of those presumed dead following the bridge collapse, said that the families of victims of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse have been prepared by authorities and experts on what to expect next. Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, 38, was one of the construction workers who vanished after the bridge collapse, CNN previously reported. Authorities have told the families they haven’t given up on recovering their loved ones, but they aren’t sure when that process will begin again. Debris must be removed from the water before more bodies can be recovered. Experts have been preparing the families for what state the bodies might be in, if they are recovered, as it has been multiple days, and they may have been damaged by debris from the collapse. Carlos Suazo Sandoval said, at this point, family members have accepted that more victims will not be found alive. ##Victims## Baltimore was sleeping when the fully laden cargo ship, adrift and without power, slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, bringing it down in seconds. The six people presumed dead from the tragedy couldn’t escape. They were maintenance workers — the kind of people few people notice but who do tough jobs through the night to keep the country running. All of those missing were immigrants, outsiders who had come to the US from Central and South America for a better life. Their stories and aspirations mirrored the lives of millions of new entrants to the United States. They are far more representative of the migrant population than the extreme and misleading picture often spouted about migrants by Donald Trump. The Republican presumptive nominee often falsely claims foreign countries are entering their asylums and jails to send their “worst people” as a de-facto invasion force to the US. Often, migrants do jobs that other people don’t want to do — the ones with the lowest wages and the worst conditions. Some do so to support families in the US and to lay the foundation of better lives for their children and grandchildren. Many send money home to support relatives who live in far less affluent economies. The sacrifices of those missing, presumed dead in Baltimore on Monday night might be worth remembering when the anti-immigrant rhetoric cranks up again in the run-up to November’s presidential election. And when the Francis Scott Key Bridge rises again, it’s a good bet it will be immigrants who are building it. More than 48 hours after the collapse of the Key Bridge, dozens of vessels from as far away as Asia are still scheduled to arrive at the Port of Baltimore, according to maritime AI company Windward.  As of Thursday morning, 59 vessels were headed toward the Port of Baltimore, up from the 54 vessels as of Wednesday afternoon. Most of those ships will need to be diverted to other East Coast ports due to the collapsed bridge, Windward said.  The new tally includes 15 service vessels and one military/law vessel, according to Windward. The number of service vessels scheduled to arrive in Baltimore has increased, likely to help with the cleanup, according to Windward.  Baltimore is the leading US port for vehicles, the import of sugar and second in the nation for coal exports.  Most of the vessels headed toward Baltimore are coming from Europe, followed by South America, the Middle East and several from Asia, according to Windward. Logistics firm Freightos previously said seven container vessels were scheduled to arrive in Baltimore through Saturday. New York and New Jersey governors say the Port Authority can take on additional cargo in wake of the Baltimore bridge collapse, announcing they directed the agency to “further evaluate all available resources to minimize supply chain disruptions.” “The tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has touched every corner of the nation, and we are ready to support Governor Moore and the people of Maryland in any way,” Govs. Kathy Hochul and Phil Murphy said in a statement.  The governors said they "will continue to work together to support our neighbors in Baltimore and consumers nationwide." On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg predicted the restoration effort for the city and port won't be quick. He warned of supply chain disruptions, saying, "The impact of this incident is going to be felt throughout the region and really throughout our supply chains." Hard-right Republicans are signaling openness to federal dollars being used to pay for the replacement of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, but some want spending cuts to offset the cost. Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, told CNN he would need to see what the request is and how it would be paid for. "If we gotta go set aside X billion dollars to deal with that port issue, then we should pay for it. Go find somebody who's paid for it. And so well, I want to have those conversations," he said.  Rep. Matt Gaetz similarly stressed “we got to do what we got to do” to rebuild the bridge given the huge economic and trade impact. “We have a federal interest in ensuring that we've got interstate commerce and there are certain hazardous materials that can't make their way through the tunnels that have to be able to utilize that bridge.” The Biden administration has signaled it is open to reducing certain regulations to speed up rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge, something Georgia GOP Rep. Andrew Clyde said is necessary. "The fastest way we could fix that bridge is to bypass a vast majority of the increased environmental regulations that have been put in place since the bridge was built," Clyde said. All 21 crew members are still onboard the Dali cargo ship, a senior official in India's Ministry of External Affairs, who is familiar with the matter, told CNN on Thursday. Of the 21 crew members onboard the Dali, 20 are Indian nationals and are "in good shape," official said.  “One of them got injured slightly and needed to have some stitches, the stitches have been given and he has then gone back to the ship," Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said in a briefing.  "Our embassy is in close touch with the Indians on board and also with local authorities on this matter,” Jaiswal said. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation, is working to determine what occurred onboard Dali and also looking at the structure of the Key bridge itself in the wake of its collapse. Synergy Marine Group, the company that managed the Dali cargo ship, extended its "deepest sympathies" to the families of the two people whose bodies were found in the Patapsco River after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.  "We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the two people lost following the incident in the Baltimore Harbor on March 26. We remain hopeful that continued efforts will lead to the recovery of the workers who remain missing," the company said in a statement on Thursday. The company said one crew member was injured and had returned to the ship on Wednesday after being treated. "The ship managers have activated their mental health team to provide trauma counseling for crew members feeling distressed, and that service will continue," it said. The company said the NTSB began interviewing crew members and collected documents, voyage data recorder extracts, and other evidence as part of their investigation, adding "We will continue to cooperate with investigators throughout this process." It also said its emergency response teams are on the ground in Baltimore and coordinating with officials "on all stages of the recovery and remediation efforts," including participation in the Unified Command that has been established to provide information as it is available. "We deeply regret this incident and the problems it has caused for the people of Baltimore and the region’s economy that relies on this vitally important port," the company said.  The Baltimore Orioles will honor the people who are presumed dead in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse at the season opener on Thursday. The team said the moment of silence will also pay tribute to the city's "brave first responders who immediately stepped into action." The Orioles are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Angels at Camden Yards in Baltimore at 3:05 p.m. ET. Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, 38, was one of the construction workers who are now presumed dead after the bridge collapse, his brother Martin Suazo told CNN. Maynor Suazo was originally from Santa Bárbara in Honduras but moved to the US in search of a better life, his brother said. Maynor had lived in the US for the past 18 years. He was married with two children – an 18-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter, Suazo said. One of eight siblings, Maynor Suazo was described by his brother Carlos Suazo Sandoval who lives in Baltimore as a kind and joyful person who had “vision.” “We still have faith until this moment, God grant the miracle, it would be beautiful,” Carlos told CNN en Español’s Maria Santana on Wednesday. “We still have hope, I know that time is our worst enemy,” he said. The Suazo family’s priority is to have Maynor’s body found, then they can move on to other worries, including the financial burden Maynor’s family may face, and telling their 72-year-old mother back in Honduras the painful news. The family plans to repatriate the body to Honduras if found, Carlos Suazo said. ##Victims## More than 1,000 US Army Corps of Engineers personnel were activated to help clear the critical shipping channel where Baltimore's Key Bridge collapsed. Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, commander and chief of engineers, explained the team will approach the mission in three steps. Here's what they are: Step 1: Get the steel truss out of a 700-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep channel, and examine what parts of the concrete are still at the bottom. "Any piece of concrete, any piece of steel on the bottom is just as much as of a hazard as that in the channel," Spellmon said. This step will allow "one-way traffic going in and out of the Port of Baltimore again," he said. Step 2: Work closely with the Coast Guard to stabilize containers on top of the ship. Then the truss of the bridge that is still on top of the ship needs to be taken off "so it can be tugged to a safe part of the port," Spellmon said. "By removing the vessel, that will allow us to reopen two-way traffic." Step 3: Take out the remaining 2,900 feet of steel and all the associated concrete and roadway that's at the river bottom. "We're up to this task. We have what we need," Spellmon said. This post has been updated with additional information about the bridge collapse. Even before most Americans woke up Tuesday morning to news of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, wild conspiracy theories about what supposedly had “really” happened were running rampant online. The claims ranged from a cyber-attack or a ship captain impaired by side effects from Covid-19 vaccines being responsible for the crash – to claims that Israel, or even the Obamas had something to do with the bridge’s collapse. All of these claims are entirely baseless. Officials investigating the crash said early on that there was no indication it was a deliberate act. But that didn’t stop conspiracy theories from spreading rapidly across the internet, generating tens of millions of views on social media even as dive teams crews were conducting search and rescue operations. In just a few hours an entire alternate reality, devoid of facts, had been created around the bridge’s collapse. It is a stark reminder of the erosion of trust among Americans in major institutions, particularly government and media, and the perverse online incentive structures that reward the sharing of misinformation. Read more about the torrent of conspiracy theories that spread online following the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge. The coastal flood advisory for Anne Arundel county in Maryland — the county bordering Baltimore county to the south and includes Annapolis — has been extended into Thursday morning. Coastal inundation up to half a foot is possible in low-lying areas of the county, and tides could be up to 1.5 to 2 feet above normal, according to the local Baltimore/Washington National Weather Service (NWS) office. "Flooding may remain possible with the tide cycle during the day (Thursday), but thereafter waters levels are expected to remain below minor flood stage," the Baltimore/Washington NWS office said. Baltimore is not under a coastal flood alert as of this write, though a small craft advisory for the Patapsco River goes into effect Thursday morning at 11 a.m. ET due to strong winds, according to the Baltimore/Washington NWS office. Rain from Wednesday night going into early afternoon Thursday, and while light, the rain could still contribute to reduced visibility on the river. Gusts are expected to reach up to 30 knots (34 mph) Thursday on the river, and patchy fog could reduce visibility to 1 to 3 nautical miles. Baltimore's forecast Friday calls for sunny skies and seasonal, with highs reaching the low 60s. The bodies of two of the six construction workers who were on Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed have been recovered. The bridge collapsed after a 984-foot-long cargo ship collided with one of its pillars. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the incident "a global crisis." "The national economy and the world's economy depends on the Port of Baltimore. The port handles more cars and more farm equipment than any other port in the country," Moore said. Here's what you should know: The victims: The six people presumed dead were from Mexico Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The bodies of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Guatemala have been recovered. The two workers, who were filling potholes on the bridge when it collapsed, were later found trapped in a red pickup truck in about 25 feet of water. Recovery efforts: Authorities are pausing search efforts for the four other workers presumed dead, because vehicles are encased in concrete and other debris have made it unsafe for divers. Once salvage operations clear the debris, divers will search for more remains. The investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the probe into the fatal incident. There were 21 crew members and two pilots on board the Dali cargo ship when it crashed into the bridge. A senior NTSB hazmat investigator identified 56 containers of hazardous material. The investigation could take 12 to 24 months to complete. Rebuilding the bridge: Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said rebuilding the bridge will not be "quick or easy" but that it will get done. He said there are four main focuses: reopening the port, dealing with supply chain issues, rebuilding the bridge and dealing with traffic issues. Biden pledged the federal government's full support in recovery efforts. His administration has already conveyed a sense of urgency to open up federal funding to remove debris and rebuild the bridge. Maryland has submitted a request to the Biden administration for emergency relief funds. ##Catch Up## The investigation into the cargo ship crash into Baltimore's Key Bridge could take up to two years, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy. "We have an amazing team of individuals who are focused on very specific areas of expertise and so I have no doubt that we will be able to pull this together in hopefully 12 to 24 months," she said Wednesday at a news conference. She called the investigation "a massive undertaking" and said there are "many different components to the investigation." "It's multimodal," Homendy said, noting that "this is not new for the NTSB." "We've conducted other investigations of bridge strikes, bridge collapses," she said. A senior hazmat investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board looked at the cargo and ship's manifest, identifying 56 containers of hazardous material, agency Chair Jennifer Homendy said Wednesday. "He was able to identify 56 containers of hazardous materials. That's 764 tons of hazardous materials — mostly corrosives, flammables, and some miscellaneous hazardous materials, class nine hazardous materials, which would include lithium ion batteries," she said at a news briefing. Some of the hazmat containers "were breached," she said, adding that sheen was seen on the waterway. There were 21 crew members and two pilots onboard the Dali cargo ship when it crashed into Baltimore's Key Bridge, according to the National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy. The NTSB, which is leading the investigation, board will try to determine what occurred onboard Dali and also look at the structure of the bridge itself. Read more about what investigators are working on. Authorities are pausing recovery efforts for the four additional people who are presumed dead after the bridge collapse, Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., the superintendent of Maryland State Police said Wednesday evening. “At this point, based upon the conditions, we are now moving from a recovery mode to a salvage operation," he said. "Because of the superstructure surrounding what we believe were the vehicles and the amount of concrete and debris, divers are no longer able to safely navigate and operate around that," he said. "We have exhausted all search efforts." The superintendent added that based on sonar scans, officials believe that the vehicles are "encased in the superstructure and concrete" of the bridge. Butler Jr. added that there is "no definitive timeline" for how long the salvage phase will take, once it is complete, the divers will go back to the site. “The sonar simply said they cannot get to that area because it was fully encased in the superstructure," he said. “Once that salvage effort takes place and that superstructure is removed, those same divers are going to go back out there and bring those people closure," he added. ##Victims## Officials have recovered the bodies of two of the missing workers who were on the Francis Scott Key bridge when it collapsed, the head of the Maryland State Police said Wednesday. Col. Roland L. Butler Jr. said that shortly before 10 a.m. ET divers found a red pickup truck in about 25 feet of water. “Divers recovered two victims of this tragedy trapped within the vehicle,” Butler said. He said Maryland State Police notified the families of those found about an hour ago. Their names were given as: Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Guatemala The workers, who were filling potholes on the bridge at the time of the incident, were from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, officials said. Butler Jr. confirmed that both men whose bodies were found today were working for the construction company. One was identified by a driver’s license in his pocket, the other was identified by fingerprint, he said. ##Victims## Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are the countries of origin for the six people who are presumed dead following the bridge collapse, Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., the superintendent of Maryland State Police, said Wednesday at a news conference. "The notifications to these individuals' family members and loved ones outside of the United States is being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and accordance with their established protocols," he said. "Again, I encourage you all to think about these people and those that they love and they lost. They're going to need your love and support." ##Victims## Maryland has submitted a request to President Joe Biden's administration for emergency relief funds "to assist in our work going forward," Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday. Moore said he spoke to Biden Wednesday by phone. Remember: Biden pledged the full support of the federal government in the response and recovery efforts after Tuesday’s collapse. His administration has already conveyed a sense of urgency to open up federal funding to remove debris and ultimately rebuild the bridge.
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