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HR 7774

FERRIES Act

119th Congress Introduced by Suzan DelBene and 9 co-sponsors

The bill codifies and expands federal grants to build and modernize passenger ferry services, creating multi-year funding for ferries, fleets, shipyards, and rural/urban routes.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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Bill Summary · HR 7774

Overview

  • Bill: HR 7774 (Federal Enhancement and Revitalization of Reliable Infrastructure for Essential Seaways Act — the FERRIES Act)
  • Session: 119th Congress, 2nd Session
  • Introduced: March 3, 2026
  • Primary purpose: Amend titles 23 and 49 to codify and expand grant programs enabling the Secretary of Transportation to issue grants for passenger ferry services, including construction of ferry boats and terminals, urban and rural ferry services, fleet modernization, and related shipyard/job creation activities. Provides new or expanded appropriations across multiple federal programs to support ferry infrastructure and operations.

What this bill aims to accomplish

  • Codify and broaden federal grant authorities to support passenger ferry services as a core component of transportation infrastructure.
  • Increase annual funding levels for several ferry-related programs and establish multi-year authorization and appropriation streams through 2027–2031.
  • Promote modernization of ferry fleets and creation of shipyard jobs, as well as support for rural ferry service and urban passenger ferries.

Key provisions and changes

A. Construction of Ferry Boats and Ferry Terminal Facilities

  • Amends Section 147(h) of title 23, U.S. Code to set new funding levels:
    • FY 2027: $160,000,000
    • FY 2028: $162,000,000
    • FY 2029: $164,000,000
    • FY 2030: $166,000,000
    • FY 2031: $168,000,000

B. Urban Passenger Ferry Grant Program

  • Adds new paragraph (4) to Section 5307(h) of title 49 (Urbanized Areas) to authorize annual appropriations:
    • $200,000,000 per year for FY 2027–2031 to carry out urban passenger ferry grants.
  • Increases total earmarked amounts for apportionment per year:
    • Section 5336(h)(1) amended to allow $100,000,000 (up from $30,000,000).

C. Ferry Fleet Modernization and Shipyard Job Creation Grant Program

  • Transforms and expands the IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) electric/low-emitting ferry pilot program into a broader grant program titled “Ferry Fleet Modernization and Shipyard Job Creation Grant Program.”
  • Defines “covered entity” as a recipient eligible for grants under sections 5307 or 5311.
  • Recasts program language from “pilot program” to a full grant program with broader authority and emphasis on modernization and shipyard job creation.
  • Authorizes total new funding:
    • $140,000,000 per year for FY 2027–2031 (replacing a lower pilot-program ceiling).
  • Transfers the program to codified authority as Section 5313 (and later, 5308 for related rural ferry program).
  • Adds clerical corrections and alignment in the U.S. Code.

D. Rural Ferry Grant Program

  • Reforms IIJA Section 71103 to emphasize competitive grants to states for basic essential ferry service in rural areas.
  • Shifts terminology from a “pilot program” to a national rural ferry service program.
  • Provides funding adjustments and lays groundwork for a grant program under new 5308 authority.
  • Increases total authorization:
    • $300,000,000 per year (for FY 2027–2031) with allocation rules:
    • Rural program receives $300,000,000 annually, with at least 80% of funds directed to eligible rural services.
    • Transfers program to codified 5308 and consolidates related provisions under that section.
  • Allocates funds from the Highway Trust Fund (including portions from 5336 and 5337 in some configurations) and clarifies financial administration.

E. Appropriations and Funding Schedule (Title II)

  • Includes comprehensive appropriations for:
    • Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration: $500,000,000 for ferry boats and terminal facilities (FY 2027–2031), with multiyear availability and explicit funding source considerations.
    • Federal Transit Administration – Transit Infrastructure Grants: $1,250,000,000 to carry out the passenger ferry grants program (split across FY 2027–2031, $250,000,000 per year).
    • Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program: $1,250,000,000 to States for essential rural ferry service (FY 2027–2031; $250,000,000 per year).
    • Ferry Fleet Modernization and Shipyard Job Creation Grant Program: $500,000,000 total with $100,000,000 available each year FY 2027–2031.
  • All funding provisions include
    • Availability until expended
    • General fund or source-specific considerations
    • Provisions limiting administrative/overhead expenses (typically up to 2%)

Who would be affected

  • State and local transportation agencies administering urban and rural ferry services.
  • Ferry operators and potential grantee entities seeking grants for:
    • Construction of ferry boats and terminal facilities
    • Fleet modernization and shipyard-related job creation
    • Rural and essential ferry services
  • Regions with significant ferry needs, including rural communities and urbanized areas requiring enhanced ferry transit options.
  • Subcomponents of the Department of Transportation (Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration) implementing these programs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral dates: Introduced March 3, 2026; referred to the House Appropriations and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.
  • The bill proposes multi-year authorizations and appropriations for FY 2027–2031, with explicit annual funding levels.
  • Codifies existing IIJA programs (with substantial expansions) into new titles and sections of the U.S. Code (e.g., creating Section 5308 for rural ferry service and Section 5313 for the ferry fleet modernization program).
  • Language includes transfers and clerical updates to align with current code organization.
  • Funding is described as ongoing through 2031, contingent on annual appropriations.

Why this matters

  • Aims to systematically invest in passenger ferry infrastructure as a core element of national transportation, potentially expanding access to water-based transit, creating maritime jobs, upgrading aging fleets, and supporting rural and urban ferry networks.
  • Seeks to ensure more predictable, multi-year funding for ferry-related projects by codifying programs and increasing annual appropriations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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