[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2429 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2429
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a
comprehensive Campus Modernization Plan for the United States Merchant
Marine Academy, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 27, 2025
Mr. Garbarino (for himself, Ms. Gillen, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr.
Suozzi, and Mr. LaLota) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a
comprehensive Campus Modernization Plan for the United States Merchant
Marine Academy, 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. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR UNITED STATES MERCHANT
MARINE ACADEMY INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES
MODERNIZATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States Merchant Marine Academy plays a
critical role in training service-obligated licensed merchant
mariners to operate commercial vessels, in peacetime and during
times of conflict.
(2) The United States Merchant Marine Academy is 1 of the 5
Federal service academies and plays a critical role in
maintaining a domestic, commercial maritime industry, with each
graduate having a commitment to serve not less than 8 years in
the foreign and domestic commerce and the national defense of
the United States, which may include service on a merchant
vessel documented under chapter 121 of title 46, and graduates
make up more than 80 percent of the United States Navy's
Strategic Sealift Officer Program.
(3) The United States defense readiness relies on a strong
investment in educating and training militarily obligated
United States Merchant Marine officers at the United States
Merchant Marine Academy.
(4) Most of the facilities at the United States Merchant
Marine Academy date back to the Academy's founding, have not
been modernized since, and are not conducive to the immersive
training and demanding coursework today's Midshipmen are
required to complete.
(5) Rehabilitating and modernizing the campus
infrastructure at the United States Merchant Marine Academy is
necessary to ensuring current and future generations of
Midshipmen receive a first-class education.
(b) Sense of the House of Representatives.--It is the sense of the
House of Representatives--
(1) to ensure that the United States continues to have a
sufficient number of service-obligated licensed merchant
mariners to meet current and future national security needs,
the Maritime Administration and the Department of
Transportation have a responsibility to provide suitable
academic, training, and dormitory facilities at the United
States Merchant Marine Academy by rapidly implementing a
comprehensive plan for campus-wide modernization in accordance
with section 51329 of title 46, United States Code, (referred
to in this section as the ``Campus Modernization Plan'') and
providing sufficient accountability and oversight to ensure
that milestones in such plan are met;
(2) in developing the comprehensive Campus Modernization
Plan for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the
Maritime Administration, and the Department of Transportation
should utilize, to the maximum extent practicable, the
``Merchant Marine Academy Full Speed Ahead Plan'' developed by
the Maritime Security Infrastructure Council as summarized in
the Congressional Record, dated February 28, 2024;
(3) given the conditions of the United States Merchant
Marine Academy as of the date of enactment of this section, a
comprehensive, campus-wide modernization is needed to
significantly upgrade or replace facilities throughout the
campus; and
(4) the Maritime Administration and the Department of
Transportation should identify opportunities to utilize design-
build contracts to increase delivery times and reduce costs.
(c) Campus Modernization Plan.--Chapter 513 of title 46, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 51329. 10-year campus modernization plan
``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall develop and begin to
implement a comprehensive Campus Modernization Plan (referred to in
this section as the `Campus Modernization Plan'), informed by the
`United States Merchant Marine Academy Full Speed Ahead Plan' developed
by the Maritime Security Infrastructure Council as summarized in the
Congressional Record, dated February 28, 2024, to carry out a campus-
wide modernization at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
``(b) Objectives.--In carrying out the Campus Modernization Plan,
the Administrator shall prioritize the following objectives:
``(1) Promoting modern education best practices by
constructing learning facilities that leverage state-of-the art
technologies and learning best practices.
``(2) Providing Midshipmen with access to facilities needed
to pass the United States Coast Guard License Exam for Third
Mate or Third Assistant Engineer Unlimited.
``(3) Ensuring Midshipmen have access to facilities
sufficient to enable Midshipmen to maintain physical readiness
standards required of United States Navy officers.
``(4) Developing campus infrastructure to ensure the
Academy attracts a diverse pool of applicants.
``(5) Providing facilities that enable industry engagement
and continuing education opportunities.
``(6) Maintaining a safe and secure campus environment for
all Midshipmen, which shall include any facilities or
infrastructure needed to meet the requirements of sections
51326, 51327, or 51328.
``(7) Implementing, to the extent practicable, the
facilities and infrastructure recommendations in chapter 4 of
the report titled `Organizational Assessment of the United
States Merchant Marine Academy: A Path Forward' issued by the
National Academy of Public Administration in November 2021.
``(c) Inclusions.--In meeting the objectives described in
subsection (b), the Campus Modernization Plan shall include--
``(1) construction of new facilities or significant
renovation of existing facilities to provide--
``(A) Standards of Training, Certification, and
Watchkeeping applications laboratories;
``(B) a Safety Of Life At Sea training pool;
``(C) engineering powerplant laboratories;
``(D) athletic facilities that meet the needs of
both male and female students;
``(E) enhanced waterfront facilities, to include a
new pier;
``(F) a visitor welcome center and main campus
security office building;
``(G) housing facilities for senior staff and
faculty; and
``(H) sufficient parking facilities for faculty,
staff, and campus visitors;
``(2) upgrades to all classrooms and laboratories with
modern information technology infrastructure;
``(3) a campus-wide upgrade and retrofit of--
``(A) the electric distribution power grid;
``(B) the sanitary sewer system piping;
``(C) the storm drainage system; and
``(D) the drinking water system, including
development of a separate and redundant fire
suppression system; and
``(4) renovations of existing campus facilities to ensure
all campus facilities--
``(A) are structurally sound;
``(B) have reliable heating and air conditioning
systems;
``(C) have functioning plumbing and electrical
systems;
``(D) are protected from the elements, including
through roof replacements and window repairs or
replacements, as needed;
``(E) are accessible in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and
``(F) have working fire alarm and fire suppression
systems.
``(d) Requirements.--For the duration of the Campus Modernization
Plan, the Administrator shall ensure that the Academy remains fully
operational.
``(e) Use of a Federal Construction Agent.--Consistent with the
requirements of section 3515(d)(3) of the James M. Inhofe National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263),
the Administrator shall seek to enter into an agreement with a Federal
construction agent to carry out the Campus Modernization Plan
authorized under subsection (a).
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation, out of the Maritime
Security Trust Fund established under section 9512 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, for the
phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of facilities
and infrastructure at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, in
accordance with this section, including the Campus Modernization Plan
authorized in subsection (a), $1,020,000,000 of which--
``(1) $54,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for
fiscal year 2026 for design and planning purposes, which shall
be used for the development of a design-build plan for the
phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of
facilities and infrastructure at the United States Merchant
Marine Academy in accordance with the Campus Modernization
Plan; and
``(2) for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, $107,333,333 is
authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year for
construction and contingency purchases necessary to execute the
Campus Modernization Plan.''.
(d) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 513 of title 46,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``51329. 10-Year Campus Modernization Plan.''.
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