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
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.
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:
(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:
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:
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.