House Freedom Caucus lays out demands for considering Baltimore bridge funding [Video]

The House Freedom Caucus is issuing a series of conditions for considering funding to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, as Congress awaits a supplemental request from the Biden administration.

In an official position released Friday, the conservative group demanded that any funding for the bridge be “fully offset” and called on the Biden administration to first lift its pause on approvals for natural gas export projects before discussing a supplemental for the bridge.

“[T]he Biden Administration’s pause on approvals of liquified natural gas export terminals — which, like the Baltimore harbor closure, has severe implications for foreign trade — must be lifted before Congress considers appropriating any funding for the bridge reconstruction,” the group wrote.

The Freedom Caucus — which is comprised of roughly three dozen hard-line conservatives — is also asking authorities “seek maximum liability from the foreign shipping companies upfront” and that the Baltimore port “draws upon already available …