Home > 105th Congressional Bills > H.R. 2705 (ih) For the relief of Edwardo Reyes and Dianelita Reyes. ...H.R. 2705 (ih) For the relief of Edwardo Reyes and Dianelita Reyes. ...
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2704
To extend the authorization for the ferry boat discretionary program,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 10, 2003
Mr. Larsen of Washington (for himself, Mr. Coble, Mr. Dicks, Mr. George
Miller of California, Mr. Lantos, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Menendez, Mr.
Israel, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Inslee, Mr. McIntyre,
Mrs. Tauscher, Ms. Lee, Mr. Nadler, and Mr. Honda) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To extend the authorization for the ferry boat discretionary 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 ``Ferry Transportation Enhancement Act
of 2003''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FERRY BOATS AND
FERRY TERMINAL FACILITIES.
(a) Funding.--Section 1064(c) of the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (23 U.S.C. 129 note) is amended
to read as follows:
``(c) Funding.--
``(1) In general.--There shall be available, out of the
Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), to
the Secretary for obligation at the discretion of the Secretary
$150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007,
2008, and 2009. Sums made available to carry out this section
shall remain available until expended.
``(2) Allocation of funds.--The Secretary shall give
priority in the allocation of funds under this section to those
ferry systems, and public entities responsible for developing
facilities for ferries, that carry the greatest number of
passengers and vehicles, carry the greatest number of
passengers in passenger-only service, or provide critical
access to areas that are not well-served by other modes of
surface transportation.''.
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY OF FERRY MAINTENANCE FACILITIES FOR FEDERAL
FUNDING.
(a) Maintenance Facilities.--Section 129(c) of title 23, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting
``and maintenance'' after ``terminal''; and
(2) in paragraph (3) by inserting ``and maintenance'' after
``terminal'' each place it appears.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1064 of the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (23 U.S.C. 129 note) is amended
by inserting ``and maintenance'' after ``terminal'' each place it
appears.
SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY OF FERRIES FOR CLEAN FUELS PROGRAM.
Section 5308 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsections (a)(3)(i), (a)(3)(iii), and (e) by
inserting ``or ferries'' after ``buses'' each place it appears;
(2) in subsection (d) by inserting ``or ferry'' after
``bus'' each place it appears;
(3) in the heading for subsection (e)(2) by inserting ``or
ferries'' after ``buses''; and
(4) in the heading for subsection (e)(3) by inserting ``or
ferry'' after ``Bus''.
SEC. 5. FERRY JOINT PROGRAM OFFICE.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation shall establish
in the Department of Transportation a Ferry Joint Program Office (in
this section, referred to as the ``Office'') to coordinate Federal
programs affecting ferry boat and ferry facility construction,
maintenance, and operations and to promote ferry service as a component
of the Nation's transportation system. The Office shall coordinate
ferry and ferry-related programs within the Department of
Transportation (including the Federal Highway Administration, the
Federal Transit Administration, the Maritime Administration, and the
Bureau of Transportation Statistics) and with the Department of
Homeland Security and other Federal and State agencies, as appropriate.
(b) Functions.--The functions of the Office shall include--
(1) ensuring resource accountability;
(2) coordinating policy relating to ferry transportation
among the various agencies of the Department of Transportation
and other departments of the United States Government;
(3) providing strategic leadership for ferry research,
development, testing, and deployment; and
(4) promoting ferry transportation as a means to reduce
social, economic, and environmental costs associated with
traffic congestion.
SEC. 6. NATIONAL FERRY DATA BASE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall maintain a
national ferry database, which shall contain current information
regarding ferry systems, routes, vessels, passengers and vehicles
carried, funding sources, and such other information as the Secretary
deems useful. The Secretary shall utilize the study generated as a
result of section 1207(c) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (23 U.S.C. 129 note; 112 Stat. 185-186), and make modifications
to that study, as appropriate.
(b) Updated Database.--The Secretary shall produce the first
updated version of the national ferry database within 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter.
(c) Public Accessibility.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
national ferry database is easily accessible to the public.
SEC. 7. NATIONAL FERRY TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation shall make
grants to an institution of higher education, within 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, to establish a National Ferry
Transportation Institute (in this section, referred to as the
``Institute'').
(b) Administration.--The Secretary shall develop and administer the
Institute in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, State
transportation departments, public ferry transportation authorities,
private ferry operators, ferry boat builders, ferry employees, and
other institutions of higher education and research institutes.
(c) Functions.--The Institute shall--
(1) conduct research and recommend development activities
on methods of improving ferry transportation programs in the
United States, including methods of reducing wake and providing
alternative propulsion;
(2) develop and conduct training programs for ferry system
employees, United States Government employees, and other
individuals, as appropriate, on recent developments,
techniques, and procedures pertaining to the construction and
operation of ferries;
(3) encourage and assist collaborative efforts by public
and private entities to preserve, improve, and expand the use
of ferries as a mode of transportation; and
(4) preserve, utilize, and display historical information
about the use of ferries in the United States and in foreign
countries.
(c) Location.--In selecting the location for the Institute, the
Secretary shall consider--
(1) the importance of public and private ferries to the
region's transportation system, including both regional travel
and long-range travel and service to isolated communities;
(2) the historical importance of ferry transportation to
the region;
(3) the history and diversity of the region's maritime
community, including ferry construction and repair and other
shipbuilding activities;
(4) the anticipated growth of ferry service and ferry boat
building in the region;
(5) the availability of public-private collaboration in the
region; and
(6) the presence of nationally recognized research
universities in the region.
(d) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of Transportation $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004,
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, to carry out activities under this
section by the Institute. The Secretary may authorize the acceptance
and expenditure of funding provided to the Institute by public and
private entities.
(e) Report.--The Secretary shall report to Congress not later than
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, on the activities of the Institute and the progress in
carrying out this section.
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