Interstate Ferry Fairness Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8200 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8200 To amend title 23, United States Code, so that a privately or majority- privately owned ferry or ferry terminal facility is an eligible entity for purposes of participation in the Ferry Boat Program, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 6, 2026 Mr. LaLota (for himself and Mr. Courtney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 23, United States Code, so that a privately or majority- privately owned ferry or ferry terminal facility is an eligible entity for purposes of participation in the Ferry Boat Program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Interstate Ferry Fairness Act''. SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO ALLOW PRIVATELY OWNED FERRIES AND FERRY TERMINAL FACILITIES TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FERRY BOAT PROGRAM. (a) Permissibility of Federal Participation in Construction of Privately Owned Ferries or Ferry Terminal Facilities.--Section 129(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (2)-- (A) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``The operation''; and (B) by striking ``on a route'' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``on a route-- ``(i) classified as a public road within the State and which has not been designated as a route on the Interstate System or on a public transit ferry eligible under chapter 53 of title 49; or ``(ii) between 2 adjoining States and that connects one or more public roads. ``(B) Projects under this subsection may be eligible for both ferry boats carrying cars a