[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 101 (Thursday, June 26, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4188-S4189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY BOARD OF VISITORS ENHANCEMENT ACT
Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of S. 2076, Calendar No. 375.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2076) 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.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Boozman
amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a
third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made
and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 3442) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To strike the requirement that the Commander of the United
States Transportation Command be a member of the Board of Visitors to
the United States Merchant Marine Academy and that a substitute member
of the Board be an officer of the United States Transportation Command)
On page 3, strike lines 10 and 11.
On page 7, strike lines 1 and 2.
The bill (S. 2076), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:
S. 2076
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;
[[Page S4189]]
``(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.''.
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