IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1116 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should recoup monies from the Synergy Marine Group and 

Maersk Line Limited to compensate taxpayers for certain damages resulting from the allision of the cargo shipping vessel the Dali with 

the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 5, 2024 

Mr. VAN DREW submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the Federal Government should recoup monies from the 

Synergy Marine Group and Maersk Line Limited to compensate taxpayers for certain damages resulting from 

the allision of the cargo shipping vessel the Dali with 

the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, and 

for other purposes. 

Whereas, on the morning of March 26, 2024, an international container ship named the Dali, traversed the Patapsco River on its way from Baltimore Harbor to Sri 

Lanka; 


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•HRES 1116 IH 

Whereas, at 1:24 a.m., the Dali suffered a total power failure 

and loss of control, and three minutes later struck a critical support pylon of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in the catastrophic collapse of the entire bridge 

structure; 

Whereas, the Francis Scott Key Bridge accident resulted in 

loss of life, substantial damages to public infrastructure, 

disruption of the domestic supply chain, and subsequently 

a financial burden on taxpayers; 

Whereas, it is necessary for companies involved in maritime 

activities to adhere to strict safety standards and protocols to prevent accidents and mitigate risks to public 

safety and infrastructure; 

Whereas, Congress has a duty to protect the interests of the 

taxpayers and promote accountability in corporate actions, and that taxpayer dollars should be allocated towards efforts that safeguard the interests and well-being 

of taxpayers, not for the compensation of losses incurred 

due to accidents and disasters caused by private entities; 

Whereas, the compensation for the losses incurred from the 

Francis Scott Key Bridge accident should be borne by 

the entities directly responsible for the incident, in accordance with principles of corporate accountability and 

liability; 

Whereas, the application of general average principles, which 

distribute costs among stakeholders, could play a significant role in allocating financial responsibilities related to 

the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, reflecting the 

complexities of maritime law and industry practices; 

Whereas, the responsibility for the Francis Scott Key Bridge 

disaster lies with Synergy Group, the Singaporean comVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:35 Apr 05, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1116.IH HR1116

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pany that chartered the vessel, the charterers of the vessel including Maersk Line, and the insurance providers 

associated with the vessel, who should bear the financial 

costs resulting from the accident, as they are accountable 

for the voyage and its consequences; 

Whereas, President Biden has stated the intention for the 

Federal Government to assume responsibility for covering 

the reconstruction costs of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, 

with estimates surpassing $600,000,000, highlighting the 

magnitude of the financial burden this would have on 

taxpayers; 

Whereas, all reconstruction costs, in addition to any additional liabilities related to personal damages or national 

economic damages should be reimbursed to taxpayers 

through the insurance of the corporate firms accountable 

for the voyage and its consequences; and 

Whereas, Congress should direct the relevant committees to 

monitor the progress of the investigations and legal actions related to the Francis Scott Key Bridge accident 

and to take further legislative action if necessary to safeguard taxpayer interests: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that the Federal Government should recoup 

3 monies from the Synergy Marine Group and Maersk Line 

4 Limited for all human, economic, and physical damages 

5 that resulted from the catastrophic allision of the cargo 

6 shipping vessel Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge 

7 on March 26, 2024. 

Æ 


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