114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 143 

AN ACT 

To allow for improvements to the United States Merchant 

Marine Academy and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
2 

†S 143 ES

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Mer3 chant Marine Academy Improvements Act of 2015’’. 

4 SEC. 2. MELVILLE HALL OF UNITED STATES MERCHANT 

5 MARINE ACADEMY. 

6 (a) GIFT TO THE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY.— 

7 The Maritime Administrator may accept a gift of money 

8 from the Foundation under section 51315 of title 46, 

9 United States Code, for the purpose of renovating Melville 

10 Hall on the campus of the United States Merchant Marine 

11 Academy. 

12 (b) COVERED GIFTS.—A gift described in this sub13 section is a gift under subsection (a) that the Maritime 

14 Administrator determines exceeds the sum of— 

15 (1) the minimum amount that is sufficient to 

16 ensure the renovation of Melville Hall in accordance 

17 with the capital improvement plan of the United 

18 States Merchant Marine Academy that was in effect 

19 on the date of enactment of this Act; and 

20 (2) 25 percent of the amount described in para21 graph (1). 

22 (c) OPERATION CONTRACTS.—Subject to subsection 

23 (d), in the case that the Maritime Administrator accepts 

24 a gift of money described in subsection (b), the Maritime 

25 Administrator may enter into a contract with the Founda26 tion for the operation of Melville Hall to make available 
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†S 143 ES

1 facilities for, among other possible uses, official academy 

2 functions, third-party catering functions, and industry 

3 events and conferences. 

4 (d) CONTRACT TERMS.—The contract described in 

5 subsection (c) shall be for such period and on such terms 

6 as the Maritime Administrator considers appropriate, in7 cluding a provision, mutually agreeable to the Maritime 

8 Administrator and the Foundation, that— 

9 (1) requires the Foundation— 

10 (A) at the expense solely of the Foundation 

11 through the term of the contract to maintain 

12 Melville Hall in a condition that is as good as 

13 or better than the condition Melville Hall was 

14 in on the later of— 

15 (i) the date that the renovation of 

16 Melville Hall was completed; or 

17 (ii) the date that the Foundation ac18 cepted Melville Hall after it was tendered 

19 to the Foundation by the Maritime Admin20 istrator; and 

21 (B) to deposit all proceeds from the oper22 ation of Melville Hall, after expenses necessary 

23 for the operation and maintenance of Melville 

24 Hall, into the account of the Regimental Affairs 

25 Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality or suc-
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†S 143 ES

1 cessor entity, to be used solely for the morale 

2 and welfare of the cadets of the United States 

3 Merchant Marine Academy; and 

4 (2) prohibits the use of Melville Hall as lodging 

5 or an office by any person for more than 4 days in 

6 any calendar year other than— 

7 (A) by the United States; or 

8 (B) for the administration and operation of 

9 Melville Hall. 

10 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

11 (1) CONTRACT.—The term ‘‘contract’’ includes 

12 any modification, extension, or renewal of the con13 tract. 

14 (2) FOUNDATION.—In this section, the term 

15 ‘‘Foundation’’ means the United States Merchant 

16 Marine Academy Alumni Association and Founda17 tion, Inc. 

18 (f) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec19 tion may be construed under section 3105 of title 41, 

20 United States Code, as requiring the Maritime Adminis-
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1 trator to award a contract for the operation of Melville 

2 Hall to the Foundation. 

Passed the Senate July 9, 2015. 

Attest: 

Secretary. 
114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 143 

AN ACT 

To allow for improvements to the United States 

Merchant Marine Academy and for other purposes.