FERRIES Act
Sponsored By: Representative Randall
Introduced
Summary
Would expand federal funding and reshape grant programs for passenger ferries, focusing on construction, urban service, rural access, and fleet modernization. The bill would rename and reorganize several programs and add new annual authorizations and appropriations for 2027–2031 to boost ferry service and shipyard investments.
Show full summary
- Transit agencies and ferry operators would gain new grant money and programs. The bill creates an Urban Passenger Ferry Grant with $200 million per year and raises construction allocations to $160 million in 2027, rising to $168 million in 2031.
- Rural communities and regular ferry riders would get more stable funding for essential routes. The rural ferry program would grow to $300 million per year with $100 million of each annual amount from the Highway Trust Fund and a rule that at least 80 percent goes to eligible basic services.
- Shipyards and maritime workers would see targeted modernization and job-support grants. The Ferry Fleet Modernization and Shipyard Job Creation program is expanded and backed by $500 million in appropriations, $100 million per year for 2027–2031.
*Net effect: increases federal spending by about $3.5 billion from the general fund for 2027–2031.*
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to modernize ferry fleets
This bill would convert a ferry pilot into a permanent Ferry Fleet Modernization and Shipyard Job Creation grant program. It would define eligible recipients as urban and rural transit operators. It would authorize $140 million each year for FY2027–FY2031 and appropriate $500 million total, with $100 million available each year. Up to 2% could pay administrative and oversight costs. The money would come from the general fund and would not count against normal transit obligation limits.
More grants for rural ferry service
This bill would create a Ferry Service for Rural Communities program to give competitive grants to States for basic rural ferry service. It would authorize $300 million per year for FY2027–FY2031, of which $100 million per year would come from the Highway Trust Fund. It would appropriate $1.25 billion total, $250 million per year for FY2027–FY2031. At least 80% of funds for eligible services must go to specified service types. Up to 2% could pay administrative and oversight costs.
More money for ferry construction
This bill would provide $500 million from the general fund for ferry boat and ferry terminal construction, $100 million per year for FY2027–FY2031. It would also set annual allocations under section 147(h) at $160 million (FY2027), $162 million (FY2028), $164 million (FY2029), $166 million (FY2030), and $168 million (FY2031). Up to 1.5% could pay Federal Highway Administration operations. The money would be in addition to other highway funds and not count against normal highway obligation limits.
More passenger ferry grant funding
This bill would increase passenger ferry grant funding under the transit account. It would authorize $200 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 and appropriate $1.25 billion total, $250 million per year for FY2027–FY2031, to carry out passenger ferry grants. It would also raise a related apportionment from $30 million to $100 million. The money would come from the general fund, be in addition to other amounts, and up to 2% could pay administrative and oversight costs.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Randall
WA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
AK • R
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov