Sponsors
The bill expands federal ferry program eligibility to territories and more rural long‑distance routes—improving connectivity and supporting workers—while increasing federal spending and raising risks of funding low‑demand or reallocated projects.
Residents and governments of U.S. territories (including the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa) and states gain eligibility to receive federal ferry program funds, expanding access to federal transportation funding.
Rural communities served by qualifying long‑distance ferries gain access to federal support to (re)establish scheduled ferry service, improving connectivity for remote areas.
Transportation workers and ferry operators in newly eligible jurisdictions may receive federal support for establishing or reopening routes, supporting jobs and local transportation providers.
U.S. taxpayers face increased federal spending to fund establishment and operation of ferry services in additional territories and rural routes.
States or territories with limited demand could receive federal funds for ferry routes that are costly to operate relative to ridership, risking inefficient use of funds.
Including the Northern Mariana Islands and other territories may shift program priorities and available funds away from some continental rural ferry needs, potentially disadvantaging certain mainland communities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands federal ferry program eligibility to include certain long-distance rural routes and explicitly makes the CNMI a "State" and rural area eligible for program funds.
Amends the federal ferry program to expand what counts as an eligible "ferry service," treats the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) as a rural area and as a "State" for program purposes, and requires guidance to include funding rules that allow States and the CNMI to receive grants to establish and operate eligible ferry services. The change adds two new categories of eligible ferry services: services that ran a regular schedule at any point during the five-year period ending March 1, 2020 and that connected at least two rural areas more than 50 sailing miles apart, and services operating or planned to operate regular schedules in the CNMI. The practical effect is to expand eligibility for federal ferry program dollars to cover certain long-distance rural ferry routes and to make the CNMI explicitly eligible for planning, establishment, and operating funds under the program, with program guidance required to spell out how funds will be provided.
Introduced June 17, 2025 by Kimberlyn King-Hinds · Last progress June 17, 2025