H.R. 7774

[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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