II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 143 

To allow for improvements to the United States Merchant Marine Academy 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 9, 2015 

Mr. WICKER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Mer5 chant Marine Academy Improvements Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. MELVILLE HALL OF UNITED STATES MERCHANT 

7 MARINE ACADEMY. 

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

9 The Maritime Administrator may accept a gift of money 

10 from the Foundation under section 51315 of title 46, 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 143 IS

1 United States Code, for the purpose of renovating Melville 

2 Hall on the campus of the United States Merchant Marine 

3 Academy. 

4 (b) COVERED GIFTS.—A gift described in this sub5 section is a gift under subsection (a) that the Maritime 

6 Administrator determines exceeds the sum of— 

7 (1) the minimum amount that is sufficient to 

8 ensure the renovation of Melville Hall in accordance 

9 with the capital improvement plan of the United 

10 States Merchant Marine Academy that was in effect 

11 on the date of enactment of this Act; and 

12 (2) 25 percent of the amount described in para13 graph (1). 

14 (c) OPERATION CONTRACTS.—Subject to subsection 

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

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

17 Administrator may enter into a contract with the Founda18 tion for the operation of Melville Hall to make available 

19 facilities for, among other possible uses, official academy 

20 functions, third-party catering functions, and industry 

21 events and conferences. 

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

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

24 as the Maritime Administrator considers appropriate, inVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:35 Jan 15, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S143.IS S143

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 143 IS

1 cluding a provision, mutually agreeable to the Maritime 

2 Administrator and the Foundation, that— 

3 (1) requires the Foundation— 

4 (A) at the expense solely of the Foundation 

5 through the term of the contract to maintain 

6 Melville Hall in a condition that is as good as 

7 or better than the condition Melville Hall was 

8 in on the later of— 

9 (i) the date that the renovation of 

10 Melville Hall was completed; or 

11 (ii) the date that the Foundation ac12 cepted Melville Hall after it was tendered 

13 to the Foundation by the Maritime Admin14 istrator; and 

15 (B) to deposit all proceeds from the oper16 ation of Melville Hall, after expenses necessary 

17 for the operation and maintenance of Melville 

18 Hall, into the account of the Regimental Affairs 

19 Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality or suc20 cessor entity, to be used solely for the morale 

21 and welfare of the cadets of the United States 

22 Merchant Marine Academy; and 

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

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

25 any calendar year other than— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 143 IS

1 (A) by the United States; or 

2 (B) for the administration and operation of 

3 Melville Hall. 

4 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

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

6 any modification, extension, or renewal of the con7 tract. 

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

9 ‘‘Foundation’’ means the United States Merchant 

10 Marine Academy Alumni Association and Founda11 tion, Inc. 

12 (f) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec13 tion may be construed under section 3105 of title 41, 

14 United States Code, as requiring the Maritime Adminis15 trator to award a contract for the operation of Melville 

16 Hall to the Foundation. 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS