I 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4144 

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 4, 2014 

Mr. GRIMM (for himself, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mr. KING of New York, 

Mr. NUNNELEE, and Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

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. 

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 ‘‘U.S. Merchant Marine 

5 Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY 

7 BOARD OF VISITORS. 

8 Section 51312 of title 46, United States Code, is 

9 amended to read as follows: 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4144 IH

1 ‘‘§ 51312. Board of Visitors 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A Board of Visitors to the 

3 United States Merchant Marine Academy (referred to in 

4 this section as the ‘Board’ and the ‘Academy’, respec5 tively) shall be established to provide independent advice 

6 and recommendations on matters relating to the United 

7 States Merchant Marine Academy. 

8 ‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.— 

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days 

10 after the date of the enactment of the U.S. Mer11 chant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Enhance12 ment Act, the Board shall be composed of— 

13 ‘‘(A) 2 Senators appointed by the chair14 man, in consultation with the ranking member, 

15 of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

16 Transportation of the Senate; 

17 ‘‘(B) 3 members of the House of Rep18 resentatives appointed by the chairman, in con19 sultation with the ranking member, of the Com20 mittee on Armed Services of the House of Rep21 resentatives; 

22 ‘‘(C) 1 Senator appointed by the Vice 

23 President, who shall be a member of the Com24 mittee on Appropriations of the Senate; 

25 ‘‘(D) 2 members of the House of Rep26 resentatives appointed by the Speaker of the 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4144 IH

1 House of Representatives, in consultation with 

2 the Minority Leader, at least 1 of whom shall 

3 be a member of the Committee on Appropria4 tions of the House of Representatives; 

5 ‘‘(E) the Commander of the United States 

6 Transportation Command; 

7 ‘‘(F) the Commander of the Military Sea8 lift Command; 

9 ‘‘(G) the Assistant Commandant for Pre10 vention Policy of the United States Coast 

11 Guard; 

12 ‘‘(H) 4 individuals appointed by the Presi13 dent; and 

14 ‘‘(I) as ex officio members— 

15 ‘‘(i) the chairman of the Committee 

16 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

17 of the Senate; 

18 ‘‘(ii) the chairman of the Committee 

19 on Armed Services of the House of Rep20 resentatives; 

21 ‘‘(iii) the chairman of the Advisory 

22 Board to the Academy established under 

23 section 51313; and 

24 ‘‘(iv) the member of the House of 

25 Representatives in whose congressional disVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Mar 05, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4144.IH H4144

smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 4144 IH

1 trict the Academy is located, as a non-vot2 ing member, unless such member of the 

3 House of Representatives is appointed as a 

4 voting member of the Board under sub5 paragraph (B) or (D). 

6 ‘‘(2) PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES.—Of the indi7 viduals appointed by the President under paragraph 

8 (1)(H)— 

9 ‘‘(A) at least 2 shall be graduates of the 

10 Academy; 

11 ‘‘(B) at least 1 shall be a senior corporate 

12 officer from a United States maritime shipping 

13 company that participates in the Maritime Se14 curity Program, or in any Maritime Adminis15 tration program providing incentives for compa16 nies to register their vessels in the United 

17 States, and this appointment shall rotate bien18 nially among such companies; and 

19 ‘‘(C) 1 or more may be a Senate-confirmed 

20 Presidential appointee, a member of the Senior 

21 Executive Service, or an officer of flag-rank 

22 who from the United States Coast Guard, the 

23 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra24 tion, or any of the military services that com25 mission graduates of the Academy, exclusive of 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 4144 IH

1 the Board members described in subparagraph 

2 (E), (F), or (G) of paragraph (1). 

3 ‘‘(3) TERM OF SERVICE.—Each member of the 

4 Board shall serve for a term of 2 years commencing 

5 at the beginning of each Congress, except that any 

6 member whose term on the Board has expired shall 

7 continue to serve until a successor is designated. 

8 ‘‘(4) VACANCIES.—If a member of the Board is 

9 no longer able to serve on the Board or resigns, the 

10 Designated Federal Officer selected under subsection 

11 (g)(2) shall immediately notify the official who ap12 pointed such member. Not later than 60 days after 

13 that notification, such official shall designate a re14 placement to serve the remainder of such member’s 

15 term. 

16 ‘‘(5) CURRENT MEMBERS.—Each member of 

17 the Board serving as a member of the Board on the 

18 date of the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine 

19 Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act shall 

20 continue to serve on the Board for the remainder of 

21 such member’s term. 

22 ‘‘(6) DESIGNATION AND RESPONSIBILITY OF

23 SUBSTITUTE BOARD MEMBERS.— 

24 ‘‘(A) AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE.—A 

25 member of the Board described in subparaVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Mar 05, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4144.IH H4144

smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 4144 IH

1 graph (E), (F), or (G) of paragraph (1) or sub2 paragraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (2) may, if 

3 unable to attend or participate in an activity 

4 described in subsection (d), (e), or (f), des5 ignate another individual to serve as a sub6 stitute member of the Board, on a temporary 

7 basis, to attend or participate in such activity. 

8 ‘‘(B) REQUIREMENTS.—A substitute mem9 ber of the Board designated under subpara10 graph (A) shall be— 

11 ‘‘(i) an individual who has been ap12 pointed by the President and confirmed by 

13 the Senate; 

14 ‘‘(ii) a member of the Senior Execu15 tive Service; or 

16 ‘‘(iii) an officer of flag-rank who is 

17 employed by— 

18 ‘‘(I) the United States Coast 

19 Guard; 

20 ‘‘(II) the United States Trans21 portation Command; or 

22 ‘‘(III) the Military Sealift Com23 mand. 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 4144 IH

1 ‘‘(C) PARTICIPATION.—A substitute mem2 ber of the Board designated under subpara3 graph (A)— 

4 ‘‘(i) shall be permitted to fully partici5 pate in the proceedings and activities of 

6 the Board; 

7 ‘‘(ii) shall report back to the member 

8 on the Board’s activities not later than 15 

9 days following the substitute member’s 

10 participation in such activities; and 

11 ‘‘(iii) shall be permitted to participate 

12 in the preparation of reports described in 

13 paragraph (j) related to any proceedings or 

14 activities of the Board in which such sub15 stitute member participates. 

16 ‘‘(c) CHAIRPERSON.— 

17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On a biennial basis, the 

18 Board shall select from among its members, a mem19 ber of the House of Representatives or a Senator to 

20 serve as the Chairperson. 

21 ‘‘(2) ROTATION.—A member of the House of 

22 Representatives and a member of the Senate shall 

23 alternately serve as the Chair of the Board on a bi24 ennial basis. 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
8 

•HR 4144 IH

1 ‘‘(3) TERM.—An individual may not serve as 

2 Chairperson for more than 1 consecutive term. 

3 ‘‘(d) MEETINGS.— 

4 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall meet sev5 eral times each year as provided for in the Charter 

6 described in paragraph (2)(B), including at least 1 

7 meeting held at the Academy. 

8 ‘‘(2) SELECTION AND CONSIDERATION.—Not 

9 later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 

10 of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of 

11 Visitors Enhancement Act, the Designated Federal 

12 Officer selected under subsection (g)(2) shall orga13 nize a meeting of the Board for the purposes of— 

14 ‘‘(A) selecting a Chairperson; and 

15 ‘‘(B) considering an official Charter for the 

16 Board, which shall provide for the meeting of 

17 the Board several times each year. 

18 ‘‘(e) VISITING THE ACADEMY.— 

19 ‘‘(1) ANNUAL VISIT.—The Board shall visit the 

20 Academy annually on a date selected by the Board, 

21 in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation 

22 and the Superintendent of the Academy. 

23 ‘‘(2) OTHER VISITS.—In cooperation with the 

24 Superintendent, the Board or its members may 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
9 

•HR 4144 IH

1 make other visits to the Academy in connection with 

2 the duties of the Board. 

3 ‘‘(3) ACCESS.—While visiting the Academy 

4 under this subsection, members of the Board shall 

5 have reasonable access to the grounds, facilities, 

6 midshipmen, faculty, staff, and other personnel of 

7 the Academy for the purpose of carrying out the du8 ties of the Board. 

9 ‘‘(f) RESPONSIBILITY.—The Board shall inquire into 

10 the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruc11 tion, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, 

12 and other matters relating to the Academy that the Board 

13 decides to consider. 

14 ‘‘(g) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SUP15 PORT.—The Secretary of Transportation shall— 

16 ‘‘(1) provide support as deemed necessary by 

17 the Board for the performance of the Board’s func18 tions; 

19 ‘‘(2) not later than 30 days after the date of 

20 the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Acad21 emy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act, select a 

22 Designated Federal Officer to support the perform23 ance of the Board’s functions; and 

24 ‘‘(3) in cooperation with the Maritime Adminis25 trator and the Superintendent of the Academy, adVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Mar 05, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4144.IH H4144

smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
10 

•HR 4144 IH

1 vise the Board of any institutional issues, consistent 

2 with applicable laws concerning the disclosure of in3 formation. 

4 ‘‘(h) STAFF.—Staff members may be designated to 

5 serve without reimbursement as staff for the Board by— 

6 ‘‘(1) the Chairperson of the Board; 

7 ‘‘(2) the chairman of the Committee on Com8 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; 

9 and 

10 ‘‘(3) the chairman of the Committee on Armed 

11 Services of the House of Representatives. 

12 ‘‘(i) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—While serving away from 

13 home or regular place of business, a member of the Board 

14 or a staff member designated under subsection (h) shall 

15 be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 

16 subsistence, as authorized under section 5703 of title 5, 

17 United States Code. 

18 ‘‘(j) REPORTS.— 

19 ‘‘(1) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 60 days 

20 after each annual visit required under subsection 

21 (e)(1), the Board shall submit to the President a 

22 written report of its actions, views, and rec23 ommendations pertaining to the Academy. 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
11 

•HR 4144 IH

1 ‘‘(2) OTHER REPORTS.—If the members of the 

2 Board visit the Academy under subsection (e)(2), 

3 the Board may— 

4 ‘‘(A) prepare a report on such visit; and 

5 ‘‘(B) if approved by a majority of the 

6 members of the Board, submit such report to 

7 the President not later than 60 days after the 

8 date of the approval. 

9 ‘‘(3) ADVISORS.—The Board may call in advis10 ers— 

11 ‘‘(A) for consultation regarding the execu12 tion of the Board’s responsibility under sub13 section (f); or 

14 ‘‘(B) to assist in the preparation of a re15 port described in paragraph (1) or (2). 

16 ‘‘(4) SUBMISSION.—A report submitted to the 

17 President under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be con18 currently submitted to— 

19 ‘‘(A) the Secretary of Transportation; 

20 ‘‘(B) the Committee on Commerce, 

21 Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and 

22 ‘‘(C) the Committee on Armed Services of 

23 the House of Representatives.’’. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS