June 17, 2025
Ms. King-Hinds introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to allow the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to be eligible to receive certain funding for use providing basic essential ferry service in rural areas, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Connecting the Northern Mariana Islands through Ferry Services Act
or the CNMI Ferry Act
.
Sec. 2. Ferry service funding for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Section 71103 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 147 note) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by striking means a ferry service
and all that follows through the period and inserting means—
; and
(ii)
by adding at the end the following:
(A)
a ferry service that—
(i)
operated a regular schedule at any time during the 5-year period ending on March 1, 2020; and
(ii)
served not less than 2 rural areas located more than 50 sailing miles apart; and
(B)
a ferry service operating, or being planned or established with the intent that the ferry service operate, a regular schedule in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.;
(B)
in paragraph (3) to read as follows:
(3) Rural area
(A) In general
The term rural area has the meaning given the term in section 5302 of title 49, United States Code.
(B) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
For purposes of the program established under subsection (b), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any area therein, shall be deemed to be a rural area.; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(5) State
The term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and any other territory or possession of the United States.; and
(2)
in subsection (c) by striking including requirements for the provision of funds to States.
and inserting
including—
(1)
requirements for the provision of funds to States; and
(2)
requirements for the provision of funds to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for the establishment and operation of an eligible service.