U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act

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:

                                                NANCY ERICKSON,

                                                             Secretary.

Summary: US Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act - Amends federal shipping law to: (1) expand the membership of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, and (2) specify requirements for the presidential appointees. Authorizes certain Board members to designate another individual to serve as a substitute member of the Board, on a temporary basis, to attend or participate in any activity the Board member is unable to attend or participate in. Prescribes requirements for designated substitute Board members. Requires the Board to select biennially from among its members a member of the House of Representatives or a Senator to serve as Board Chairperson. Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to select a Designated Federal Officer to support the performance of the Board's functions. Directs the Board to report annually to the President on its actions, views, and recommendations with respect to the Academy.