FERRIES Act

(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:

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.