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”.
Connecting the Northern Mariana Islands through Ferry Services Act
A BILL
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.
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—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2)—
by striking “means a ferry service” and all that follows through the period and inserting “means—”; and
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.”
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.”
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.”
in subsection (c) by striking “including requirements for the provision of funds to States.” and inserting
“(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.”