[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2076 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2076
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the provisions of title 46, United States Code, related to the
Board of Visitors to 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board
of Visitors Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY BOARD OF VISITORS.
Section 51312 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read
as follows:
``Sec. 51312. Board of Visitors
``(a) In General.--A Board of Visitors to the United States
Merchant Marine Academy (referred to in this section as the `Board' and
the `Academy', respectively) shall be established to provide
independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the
United States Merchant Marine Academy.
``(b) Appointment and Membership.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of
Visitors Enhancement Act, the Board shall be composed of--
``(A) 2 Senators appointed by the chairman, in
consultation with the ranking member, of the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
``(B) 3 members of the House of Representatives
appointed by the chairman, in consultation with the
ranking member, of the Committee on Armed Services of
the House of Representatives;
``(C) 1 Senator appointed by the Vice President,
who shall be a member of the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate;
``(D) 2 members of the House of Representatives
appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, in consultation with the Minority
Leader, at least 1 of whom shall be a member of the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives;
``(E) the Commander of the Military Sealift
Command;
``(F) the Assistant Commandant for Prevention
Policy of the United States Coast Guard;
``(G) 4 individuals appointed by the President; and
``(H) as ex officio members--
``(i) the chairman of the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate;
``(ii) the chairman of the Committee on
Armed Services of the House of Representatives;
``(iii) the chairman of the Advisory Board
to the Academy established under section 51313;
and
``(iv) the member of the House of
Representatives in whose congressional district
the Academy is located, as a non-voting member,
unless such member of the House of
Representatives is appointed as a voting member
of the Board under subparagraph (B) or (D).
``(2) Presidential appointees.--Of the individuals
appointed by the President under paragraph (1)(H)--
``(A) at least 2 shall be graduates of the Academy;
``(B) at least 1 shall be a senior corporate
officer from a United States maritime shipping company
that participates in the Maritime Security Program, or
in any Maritime Administration program providing
incentives for companies to register their vessels in
the United States, and this appointment shall rotate
biennially among such companies; and
``(C) 1 or more may be a Senate-confirmed
Presidential appointee, a member of the Senior
Executive Service, or an officer of flag-rank who from
the United States Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, or any of the military
services that commission graduates of the Academy,
exclusive of the Board members described in
subparagraph (E), (F), or (G) of paragraph (1).
``(3) Term of service.--Each member of the Board shall
serve for a term of 2 years commencing at the beginning of each
Congress, except that any member whose term on the Board has
expired shall continue to serve until a successor is
designated.
``(4) Vacancies.--If a member of the Board is no longer
able to serve on the Board or resigns, the Designated Federal
Officer selected under subsection (g)(2) shall immediately
notify the official who appointed such member. Not later than
60 days after that notification, such official shall designate
a replacement to serve the remainder of such member's term.
``(5) Current members.--Each member of the Board serving as
a member of the Board on the date of the enactment of the U.S.
Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act shall
continue to serve on the Board for the remainder of such
member's term.
``(6) Designation and responsibility of substitute board
members.--
``(A) Authority to designate.--A member of the
Board described in subparagraph (E), (F), or (G) of
paragraph (1) or subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph
(2) may, if unable to attend or participate in an
activity described in subsection (d), (e), or (f),
designate another individual to serve as a substitute
member of the Board, on a temporary basis, to attend or
participate in such activity.
``(B) Requirements.--A substitute member of the
Board designated under subparagraph (A) shall be--
``(i) an individual who has been appointed
by the President and confirmed by the Senate;
``(ii) a member of the Senior Executive
Service; or
``(iii) an officer of flag-rank who is
employed by--
``(I) the United States Coast
Guard; or
``(II) the Military Sealift
Command.
``(C) Participation.--A substitute member of the
Board designated under subparagraph (A)--
``(i) shall be permitted to fully
participate in the proceedings and activities
of the Board;
``(ii) shall report back to the member on
the Board's activities not later than 15 days
following the substitute member's participation
in such activities; and
``(iii) shall be permitted to participate
in the preparation of reports described in
paragraph (j) related to any proceedings or
activities of the Board in which such
substitute member participates.
``(c) Chairperson.--
``(1) In general.--On a biennial basis, the Board shall
select from among its members, a member of the House of
Representatives or a Senator to serve as the Chairperson.
``(2) Rotation.--A member of the House of Representatives
and a member of the Senate shall alternately serve as the Chair
of the Board on a biennial basis.
``(3) Term.--An individual may not serve as Chairperson for
more than 1 consecutive term.
``(d) Meetings.--
``(1) In general.--The Board shall meet several times each
year as provided for in the Charter described in paragraph
(2)(B), including at least 1 meeting held at the Academy.
``(2) Selection and consideration.--Not later than 60 days
after the date of the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine
Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act, the Designated
Federal Officer selected under subsection (g)(2) shall organize
a meeting of the Board for the purposes of--
``(A) selecting a Chairperson; and
``(B) considering an official Charter for the
Board, which shall provide for the meeting of the Board
several times each year.
``(e) Visiting the Academy.--
``(1) Annual visit.--The Board shall visit the Academy
annually on a date selected by the Board, in consultation with
the Secretary of Transportation and the Superintendent of the
Academy.
``(2) Other visits.--In cooperation with the
Superintendent, the Board or its members may make other visits
to the Academy in connection with the duties of the Board.
``(3) Access.--While visiting the Academy under this
subsection, members of the Board shall have reasonable access
to the grounds, facilities, midshipmen, faculty, staff, and
other personnel of the Academy for the purpose of carrying out
the duties of the Board.
``(f) Responsibility.--The Board shall inquire into the state of
morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment,
fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the
Academy that the Board decides to consider.
``(g) Department of Transportation Support.--The Secretary of
Transportation shall--
``(1) provide support as deemed necessary by the Board for
the performance of the Board's functions;
``(2) not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors
Enhancement Act, select a Designated Federal Officer to support
the performance of the Board's functions; and
``(3) in cooperation with the Maritime Administrator and
the Superintendent of the Academy, advise the Board of any
institutional issues, consistent with applicable laws
concerning the disclosure of information.
``(h) Staff.--Staff members may be designated to serve without
reimbursement as staff for the Board by--
``(1) the Chairperson of the Board;
``(2) the chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate; and
``(3) the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of
the House of Representatives.
``(i) Travel Expenses.--While serving away from home or regular
place of business, a member of the Board or a staff member designated
under subsection (h) shall be allowed travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized under section 5703 of title
5, United States Code.
``(j) Reports.--
``(1) Annual report.--Not later than 60 days after each
annual visit required under subsection (e)(1), the Board shall
submit to the President a written report of its actions, views,
and recommendations pertaining to the Academy.
``(2) Other reports.--If the members of the Board visit the
Academy under subsection (e)(2), the Board may--
``(A) prepare a report on such visit; and
``(B) if approved by a majority of the members of
the Board, submit such report to the President not
later than 60 days after the date of the approval.
``(3) Advisors.--The Board may call in advisers--
``(A) for consultation regarding the execution of
the Board's responsibility under subsection (f); or
``(B) to assist in the preparation of a report
described in paragraph (1) or (2).
``(4) Submission.--A report submitted to the President
under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be concurrently submitted to--
``(A) the Secretary of Transportation;
``(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate; and
``(C) the Committee on Armed Services of the House
of Representatives.''.
Passed the Senate June 26, 2014.
Attest:
Secretary.
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2076
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the provisions of title 46, United States Code, related to the
Board of Visitors to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and for
other purposes.