[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 106 (Thursday, July 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2015

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 93, S. 143.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 143) to allow for improvements to the United 
     States Merchant Marine Academy and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bill 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 bill (S. 143) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 143

       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 ``United States Merchant 
     Marine Academy Improvements Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. MELVILLE HALL OF UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE 
                   ACADEMY.

       (a) Gift to the Merchant Marine Academy.--The Maritime 
     Administrator may accept a gift of money from the Foundation 
     under section 51315 of title 46, United States Code, for the 
     purpose of renovating Melville Hall on the campus of the 
     United States Merchant Marine Academy.
       (b) Covered Gifts.--A gift described in this subsection is 
     a gift under subsection (a) that the Maritime Administrator 
     determines exceeds the sum of--
       (1) the minimum amount that is sufficient to ensure the 
     renovation of Melville Hall in accordance with the capital 
     improvement plan of the United States Merchant Marine Academy 
     that was in effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and
       (2) 25 percent of the amount described in paragraph (1).
       (c) Operation Contracts.--Subject to subsection (d), in the 
     case that the Maritime Administrator accepts a gift of money 
     described in subsection (b), the Maritime Administrator may 
     enter into a contract with the Foundation for the operation 
     of Melville Hall to make available facilities for, among 
     other possible uses, official academy functions, third-party 
     catering functions, and industry events and conferences.
       (d) Contract Terms.--The contract described in subsection 
     (c) shall be for such period and on such terms as the 
     Maritime Administrator considers appropriate, including a 
     provision, mutually agreeable to the Maritime Administrator 
     and the Foundation, that--
       (1) requires the Foundation--
       (A) at the expense solely of the Foundation through the 
     term of the contract to maintain Melville Hall in a condition 
     that is as good as or better than the condition Melville Hall 
     was in on the later of--
       (i) the date that the renovation of Melville Hall was 
     completed; or
       (ii) the date that the Foundation accepted Melville Hall 
     after it was tendered to the Foundation by the Maritime 
     Administrator; and
       (B) to deposit all proceeds from the operation of Melville 
     Hall, after expenses necessary for the operation and 
     maintenance of Melville Hall, into the account of the 
     Regimental Affairs Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality or 
     successor entity, to be used solely for the morale and 
     welfare of the cadets of the United States Merchant Marine 
     Academy; and
       (2) prohibits the use of Melville Hall as lodging or an 
     office by any person for more than 4 days in any calendar 
     year other than--
       (A) by the United States; or
       (B) for the administration and operation of Melville Hall.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Contract.--The term ``contract'' includes any 
     modification, extension, or renewal of the contract.
       (2) Foundation.--In this section, the term ``Foundation'' 
     means the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni 
     Association and Foundation, Inc.
       (f) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed under section 3105 of title 41, United States Code, 
     as requiring the Maritime Administrator to award a contract 
     for the operation of Melville Hall to the Foundation.

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