# What This Bill Does

This bill makes changes to how the federal government decides which port and shipping projects get federal grant money. Specifically, it expands what kinds of projects can qualify for funding under the Port and Intermodal Improvement Program, which hands out grants to improve ports and the transportation connections around them.

Right now, the program only funds projects that help move goods through ports. This bill adds a new category: projects that help reduce pollution from cruise ships and large passenger vessels by installing shore power systems. Shore power allows ships to plug into electrical power at the dock instead of running their diesel engines while docked, which cuts down on air pollution in port cities. So if a port wants to install the infrastructure to let cruise ships plug in and power down their engines, that project could now qualify for federal funding.

The practical effect is that ports in cities with cruise ship traffic—particularly places like Miami, New Orleans, and other major cruise destinations—could get federal money to build these pollution-reduction systems. This would help reduce air pollution in those communities and potentially lower operating costs for cruise lines. The bill also cleans up some technical language from a previous defense law to avoid any confusion about what projects qualify.

To amend title 46, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the project selection criteria for grants under the port and intermodal improvement program, and for other purposes.

Gimenez, Carlos A.

 <p>This bill makes emission mitigation projects that support the use of land-based power sources to supply energy to passenger vessels at berth (i.e., shore power) eligible for grants through the Port Infrastructure Development Program. (This program provides competitive grants for projects to improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port.)</p>