HR 7774
Ferries act
Ferries Act
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Bill overview
The Federal Enhancement and Revitalization of Reliable Infrastructure for Essential Seaways Act, or FERRIES Act, aims to bolster passenger ferry services in the United States. It does this by increasing funding for grant programs related to ferry boat construction, urban ferry grants, ferry fleet modernization, and rural ferry services. The bill modifies existing transportation codes to clarify eligibility and streamline grant application processes, particularly focusing on modernizing ferry fleets and supporting job creation in shipyards.
Key provisions
- Increases funding for construction of ferry boats and terminal facilities through Title 23.
- Authorizes appropriations for the Urban Passenger Ferry Grant Program, increasing annual funding.
- Establishes a Ferry Fleet Modernization and Shipyard Job Creation Grant Program.
- Expands funding for the Rural Ferry Grant Program to support ferry services in rural areas.
- Codifies and amends sections of Title 49 of the United States Code related to ferry services.
- Redefines ‘covered entity’ to include recipients of ferry-related grants.
- Modifies the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provisions related to ferry grants.
- Allocates funding from the Highway Trust Fund for ferry infrastructure projects.
Who is affected
- Department of Transportation
- State governments
- Local governments (involved in ferry operations)
- Ferry operators
- Shipping industry
Notable changes
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 7774
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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.
This Act may be cited as the Federal Enhancement and Revitalization of Reliable Infrastructure for Essential Seaways Act FERRIES Act
or the
.
$160,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
$162,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
$164,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
$166,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; and
$168,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.
Section 5336(h)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking $30,000,000
and inserting $100,000,000
.
by striking the section heading and inserting Ferry fleet modernization and shipyard job creation grant program
;
in subsection (a)—
by striking paragraph (3);
by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph:
in subsection (b)—
by striking a pilot program to provide grants
and inserting a grant program under which the Secretary may issues grants to a covered entity
;
by striking of or
and inserting of, or
; and
from existingand inserting
from, existing;
in subsection (c)—
by striking pilot program
and inserting grant program
;
by striking ensure that
and inserting ensure that, to the extent practicable
;
shall; and
shall; and
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.
.
The analysis for chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5312 the following:
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2)(B)—
by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or
;
by striking served not
and inserting the following:
served—
not
by adding at the end the following:
by striking paragraph (4);
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.
;
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;
in subsection (f)—
by striking the subsection heading and inserting Authorization of appropriations
; and
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).
;
by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5307 the following new section:
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.
The analysis for chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5307 the following:
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.
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.
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.
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.