[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11195-11196]
[From the U.S. 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;

[[Page 11196]]

       ``(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.''.

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