119 HR 4039 IH: Connecting the Northern Mariana Islands through Ferry Services Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-06-17 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4039IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 17, 2025Ms. King-Hinds introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureA BILLTo amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to allow the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to be eligible to receive certain funding for use providing basic essential ferry service in rural areas, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Connecting the Northern Mariana Islands through Ferry Services Act or the CNMI Ferry Act.

2.

Ferry service funding for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Section 71103 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 147 note) is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)in paragraph (2)—(i)by striking means a ferry service and all that follows through the period and inserting means—; and(ii)by adding at the end the following:(A)a ferry service that—(i)operated a regular schedule at any time during the 5-year period ending on March 1, 2020; and(ii)served not less than 2 rural areas located more than 50 sailing miles apart; and(B)a ferry service operating, or being planned or established with the intent that the ferry service operate, a regular schedule in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.;(B)in paragraph (3) to read as follows:(3)

Rural area

(A)

In general

The term rural area has the meaning given the term in section 5302 of title 49, United States Code.(B)

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

For purposes of the program established under subsection (b), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any area therein, shall be deemed to be a rural area.; and(C)by adding at the end the following:(5)

State

The term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and any other territory or possession of the United States.; and(2)in subsection (c) by striking including requirements for the provision of funds to States. and inserting including—(1)requirements for the provision of funds to States; and(2)requirements for the provision of funds to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for the establishment and operation of an eligible service..