[Senate Report 114-51]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 93
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 114-51
_______________________________________________________________________
UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2015
__________
R E P O R T
of the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
on
S. 143
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
May 21, 2015.--Ordered to be printed
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
49-010 WASHINGTON : 2015
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
one hundred fourteenth congress
first session
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman
ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi BILL NELSON, Florida
ROY BLUNT, Missouri MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
MARCO RUBIO, Florida CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri
KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire AMY KLOBUCHAR , Minnesota
TED CRUZ, Texas RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
JERRY MORAN, Kansas ED MARKEY, Massachusetts
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska CORY BOOKER, New Jersey
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin TOM UDALL, New Mexico
DEAN HELLER, Nevada JOE MANCHIN, West Virginia
CORY GARDNER, Colorado GARY PETERS, Michigan
STEVE DAINES, Montana
David Schwietert, Staff Director
Nick Rossi, Deputy Staff Director
Rebecca Seidel, General Counsel
Kim Lipsky, Democratic Staff Director
Christopher Day, Democratic Deputy Staff Director
Clint Odom, Democratic General Counsel
Calendar No. 93
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 114-51
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UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2015
_______
May 21, 2015.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Thune, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 143]
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to
which was referred the bill (S. 143) to allow for improvements
to the United States Merchant Marine Academy and for other
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon
without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of S. 143, the United States Merchant Marine
Academy Improvements Act of 2015, is to allow the United States
Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) to accept a gift from its
alumni foundation to complete renovations of the Officers' Club
(known as Melville Hall) without federally-appropriated funds
and to allow the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni
Association and Foundation, Inc. (Foundation) to compete for
the contract to operate Melville Hall.
Background and Needs
The USMMA in Kings Point, New York, is one of five service
academies that prepare college-aged students to be officers of
the U.S. uniformed services. After graduation, midshipmen are
commissioned as officers and obligated to serve a minimum of
five years in the active or reserve components of the military,
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
commissioned officer corps, or in Federal civil service within
a national security program.\1\ The USMMA graduates
approximately 200 midshipmen annually.\2\
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\1\R. Eric Petersen, Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and
Resources for Outreach and Management. CRS Memo September 23, 2014.
\2\Maritime Administration United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Capital Improvement Program FY 2014 Annual Report and FY 2015-2019
Plan: http://www.usmma.edu/sites/usmma.edu/files/docs/2014 CIP Report-
Final sent to Congress 4 1 14.pdf.
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The Maritime Administration (MARAD) provides support and
oversight of the USMMA campus infrastructure. MARAD is
currently allowed to accept gifts from non-prohibited sources
to support the USMMA and its infrastructure; however,
congressional approval is required to enter into a non-
competitive contract with the Foundation to operate Melville
Hall.\3\ Melville Hall at the USMMA is eligible for use by
USMMA midshipmen, faculty and staff, alumni, military members,
community organizations, and government entities.\4\ The
renovation of this building would improve its current use as a
formal dining area for midshipmen events, sponsor dinners,
meetings, and lectures. In addition, staff and faculty would be
provided an updated place for conferences and social events.\5\
The cost of Melville Hall renovations to bring the building
into compliance with all fire, environmental, and building
codes, as well as Federal statutes, such as the Americans with
Disabilities Act, and to improve its water, heating, drainage,
and electrical systems is estimated at $4 million.\6\
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\3\Ibid.
\4\http://www.usmma.edu/facilities/melville-hall/hall-policies.
\5\Maritime Administration United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Capital Improvement Program FY 2014 Annual Report and FY 2015-2019
Plan: http://www.usmma.edu/sites/usmma.edu/files/docs/2014 CIP Report-
Final sent to Congress 4 1 14.pdf.
\6\Ibid.
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Summary of Provisions
S. 143 would authorize the Administrator of MARAD to accept
money from the Foundation for renovations of Melville Hall. It
would also allow the Administrator of MARAD to enter into a
contract with the Foundation for the hall's operation,
contingent on certain terms being met.
Legislative History
S. 143 was introduced by Senator Wicker on January 9, 2015.
Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) introduced a companion bill
in the House, H.R. 143. On February 26, 2015, the Committee met
in open Executive Session and, by a voice vote, ordered S. 143
to be reported favorably without amendment.
Estimated Costs
In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget
Office:
S. 143--United States Merchant Marine Academy Improvements Act of 2015
S. 143 would authorize the Maritime Administration (MARAD)
to accept a monetary donation from the United States Merchant
Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation to renovate
Melville Hall of the Merchant Marine Academy in the state of
New York. If the foundation chooses to make a donation that is
25 percent greater than the minimum amount required to renovate
Melville Hall, the bill would authorize MARAD to enter into a
contract with the foundation to operate the hall for certain
purposes. Under the contract, the foundation would maintain the
hall and make its facilities available for official academy
functions, as well as industry events, conferences, and other
activities. The foundation would retain sufficient income to
cover its costs of hosting such events in the hall and remit
any remaining amounts to a federal fund that would be used,
without further appropriation, to promote the morale and
welfare of the academy's cadets.
Based on information provided by MARAD, CBO estimates that
the foundation would need to donate $9 million to allow MARAD
to renovate the hall and to contract with the foundation to
operate the hall. CBO estimates that the gift would be spent,
without further appropriation, for the authorized purposes and
that any net income from using the hall to host events would
also be spent, resulting in no significant net budgetary
impact. Because enacting S. 143 would affect direct spending,
pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting S. 143 would not
affect revenues.
S. 143 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Martin von
Gnechten. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Regulatory Impact
In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the
legislation, as reported:
NUMBER OF PERSONS COVERED
S. 143 as reported does not create any new programs or
impose any new regulatory requirements, and therefore would not
subject any individuals or businesses to new regulations.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Enactment of this legislation is not expected to have any
significant adverse impacts on the Nation's economy.
PRIVACY
The bill would not impact the personal privacy of
individuals.
PAPERWORK
The Committee does not anticipate an increase in paperwork
burdens resulting from the passage of this legislation.
Congressionally Directed Spending
In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no
provisions contained in the bill, as reported, meet the
definition of congressionally directed spending items under the
rule.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title.
This section would designate the short title of this bill
as the ``United States Merchant Marine Academy Improvements Act
of 2015.''
Section 2. Melville Hall of United States Merchant Marine Academy.
This section would clarify section 51315 of title 46,
United States Code, to allow the Administrator of MARAD to
accept a gift of money that covers the minimum amount
sufficient (plus 25 percent of that total) from the Foundation
for the purpose of renovating Melville Hall. The Administrator
of MARAD may also enter into a contract with the Foundation to
operate the hall. The bill, if the Administrator of MARAD
enters into a contract with the Foundation, would direct the
proceeds, after expenses for operation and maintenance of the
hall, to be returned to the Merchant Marine Academy cadet
welfare fund. Additionally, if operation of the hall is awarded
to the Foundation, the Foundation would be required to return
the hall to MARAD in its renovated condition. Further, the bill
would prohibit the use of Melville Hall as lodging or an office
other than for Government purposes or the administration or
operation of the hall.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the
bill as reported would make no change to existing law.
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