[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7774 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7774
To amend titles 23 and 49, United States Code, to codify and amend
certain grant programs under which the Secretary of Transportation may
issue grants for use in the provision of passenger ferry services, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 3, 2026
Ms. Randall (for herself, Mr. Begich, Mr. Garamendi, and Ms.
Malliotakis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend titles 23 and 49, United States Code, to codify and amend
certain grant programs under which the Secretary of Transportation may
issue grants for use in the provision of passenger ferry services, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Enhancement and
Revitalization of Reliable Infrastructure for Essential Seaways Act''
or the ``FERRIES Act''.
TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS
SEC. 2. FUNDING FOR PASSENGER FERRY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAMS.
(a) Construction of Ferry Boats and Ferry Terminal Facilities.--
Section 147(h) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking
paragraphs (1) through (5) and inserting the following:
``(1) $160,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(2) $162,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
``(3) $164,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
``(4) $166,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; and
``(5) $168,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.''.
(b) Urban Passenger Ferry Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--Section 5307(h) of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
funds made available under section 5338 to carry out this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this subsection $200,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''.
(2) Apportionments.--Section 5336(h)(1) of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``$30,000,000'' and
inserting ``$100,000,000''.
(c) Ferry Fleet Modernization and Shipyard Job Creation Grant
Program.--
(1) Amendments to iija electric or low-emitting ferry pilot
program.--Section 71102 of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 147 note) is amended--
(A) by striking the section heading and inserting
``ferry fleet modernization and shipyard job creation
grant program'';
(B) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking paragraph (3);
(ii) by redesignating paragraph (2) as
paragraph (3); and
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (1) the
following new paragraph:
``(2) Covered entity.--The term `covered entity' means a
recipient or designated recipient eligible for a grant under
section 5307 or 5311.'';
(C) in subsection (b)--
(i) by striking ``a pilot program to
provide grants'' and inserting ``a grant
program under which the Secretary may issues
grants to a covered entity'';
(ii) by striking ``of or'' and inserting
``of, or''; and
(iii) by striking ``from existing'' and
inserting ``from, existing'';
(D) in subsection (c)--
(i) by striking ``pilot program'' and
inserting ``grant program'';
(ii) by striking ``ensure that'' and
inserting ``ensure that, to the extent
practicable'';
(iii) in paragraph (1), by striking
``shall''; and
(iv) in paragraph (2), by striking
``shall''; and
(E) in subsection (d) by striking ``$50,000,000''
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``$140,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027
through 2031.''.
(2) Codification.--Section 71102 of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 147 note), as amended, is
transferred to appear as section 5313 of title 49, United
States Code.
(3) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter 53 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 5312 the following:
``5313. Ferry fleet modernization and shipyard job creation grant
program.''.
(d) Rural Ferry Grant Program.--
(1) Amendments to iija ferry service grants.--Section 71103
of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 147
note) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (2)(B)--
(I) by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; or'';
(II) by striking ``served not'' and
inserting the following: ``served--
``(i) not''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(ii) not less than 2 rural areas without
regard to the distance between such areas.'';
and
(ii) by striking paragraph (4);
(B) in subsection (b) by striking ``establish a
program to'' and all that follows through the period at
the end and inserting ``maintain a program under which
the Secretary may provide competitive grants to States
for the provision of a basic essential ferry service in
rural areas.'';
(C) in subsection (e) by striking ``under section
5336 or 5337 of title 49, United States Code,'' and
inserting ``under section 5336 (other than subsection
(h)(1) of such section) or 5337'';
(D) in subsection (f)--
(i) by striking the subsection heading and
inserting ``Authorization of Appropriations'';
and
(ii) by striking ``$200,000,000'' and all
that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``$300,000,000 for each fiscal years
2027 through 2031, of which $100,000,000 shall
be derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other
than the Mass Transit Account).'';
(E) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as
subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and
(F) by inserting after subsection (e) the
following:
``(f) Proportion of Funds.--In carrying out the program under this
section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 80 percent of
the funds made available to eligible services under this section are
provided to eligible services described in subsection (a)(2)(B)(i).''.
(2) Codification.--
(A) In general.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5307
the following new section:
``Sec. 5308. Ferry service for rural communities program''.
(B) Transfer.--Subsections (a) through (f) of
section 71103 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (23 U.S.C. 147 note), as amended by paragraph (1),
are transferred to appear as subsections (a) through
(f) of section 5308 of title 49, United States Code, as
inserted by this paragraph.
(C) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter
53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 5307 the
following:
``5308. Ferry service for rural communities program.''.
TITLE II--APPROPRIATIONS
That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and for other purposes, namely:
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
highway infrastructure programs
For an additional amount for ``Highway Infrastructure Programs'',
$500,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out the
construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities program under
section 147 of title 23, United States Code: Provided, That
$100,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be made
available for fiscal year 2027, $100,000,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be made available for fiscal year 2028, $100,000,000,
to remain available until expended, shall be made available for fiscal
year 2029, $100,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be
made available for fiscal year 2030, and $100,000,000, to remain
available until expended, shall be made available for fiscal year 2031:
Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading in
this Act shall be administered as if made available under section 147
of title 23, United States Code: Provided further, That the amounts
made available under this heading in this Act shall be derived from the
general fund of the Treasury, shall be in addition to any other amounts
made available for such purpose, and shall not affect the distribution
or amount of funds provided in any Act making annual appropriations:
Provided further, That up to 1.5 percent of the amounts made available
under this heading in this Act in each of fiscal years 2027 through
2031 shall be for operations and administrations of the Federal Highway
Administration: Provided further, That the amounts made available under
this heading in this Act shall not be subject to any limitation on
obligations for Federal-aid highways or highway safety construction
programs set forth in any Act making annual appropriations.
Federal Transit Administration
transit infrastructure grants
For an additional amount for ``Transit Infrastructure Grants'',
$1,250,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out the
passenger ferry grants program under section 5307(h) of title 49,
United States Code: Provided, That $250,000,000, to remain available
until expended, shall be made available for fiscal year 2027,
$250,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be made
available for fiscal year 2028, $250,000,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be made available for fiscal year 2029, $250,000,000,
to remain available until expended, shall be made available for fiscal
year 2030, and $250,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall
be made available for fiscal year 2031: Provided further, That the
amounts made available under this heading in this Act shall be derived
from the general fund of the Treasury, shall be in addition to any
other amounts made available for such purpose, and shall not affect the
distribution of funds provided in any Act making annual appropriations:
Provided further, That the amounts made available under this heading in
this Act shall not be subject to any limitation on obligations for the
Federal Public Transportation Assistance Program set forth in any Act
making annual appropriations: Provided further, That not more than two
percent of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act
shall be available for administrative and oversight expenses as
authorized under section 5334 and section 5338(c) of title 49, United
States Code, and shall be in addition to any other appropriations for
such purpose.
ferry service for rural communities program
For competitive grants to States for eligible essential ferry
service as authorized under section 5308 of title 49, United States
Code, $1,250,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided,
That $250,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be made
available for fiscal year 2027, $250,000,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be made available for fiscal year 2028, $250,000,000,
to remain available until expended, shall be made available for fiscal
year 2029, $250,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be
made available for fiscal year 2030, and $250,000,000, to remain
available until expended, shall be made available for fiscal year 2031:
Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading in
this Act shall be derived from the general fund of the Treasury:
Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading in
this Act shall not be subject to any limitation on obligations for the
Federal Public Transportation Assistance Program set forth in any Act
making annual appropriations: Provided further, That not more than two
percent of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act
shall be available for administrative and oversight expenses as
authorized under section 5334 and section 5338(c) of title 49, United
States Code, and shall be in addition to any other appropriations for
such purpose.
ferry fleet modernization and shipyard job creation grant program
For competitive grants for the Ferry Fleet Modernization and
Shipyard Job Creation Grant Program as authorized under section 5313 of
title 49, United States Code, $500,000,000, to remain available until
expended: Provided, That $100,000,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be made available for fiscal year 2027, $100,000,000,
to remain available until expended, shall be made available for fiscal
year 2028, $100,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be
made available for fiscal year 2029, $100,000,000, to remain available
until expended, shall be made available for fiscal year 2030, and
$100,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be made
available for fiscal year 2031: Provided further, That amounts made
available under this heading in this Act shall be derived from the
general fund of the Treasury: Provided further, That the amounts made
available under this heading in this Act shall not be subject to any
limitation on obligations for transit programs set forth in any Act
making annual appropriations: Provided further, That not more than two
percent of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act
shall be available for administrative and oversight expenses as
authorized under section 5334 and section 5338(c) of title 49, United
States Code, and shall be in addition to any other appropriations for
such purpose.
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