Maritime Administration Authorization and Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2018

To amend and enhance certain maritime programs of the Department of Transportation, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Maritime Administration Authorization and Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Authorization of the Maritime Administration. Sec. 3. Removal adjunct professor limit at United States Merchant Marine Academy. Sec. 4. Acceptance of guarantees in conjunction with partial donations for major projects of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Sec. 5. Authority to pay conveyance or transfer expenses in connection with acceptance of a gift to the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Sec. 6. Authority to participate in Federal, State or other research grants. Sec. 7. Continuing funding for the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Sec. 8. Access to satellite phone during Sea Year program. Sec. 9. Assistance for small shipyards and maritime communities. 2. Authorization of the Maritime Administration (a) In general There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2018, to be available without fiscal year limitation if so provided in appropriations Acts, for programs associated with maintaining the United States merchant marine, the following amounts: (1) For expenses necessary for operations of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, $99,902,000, of which— (A) $74,851,000 shall be for Academy operations, including— (i) the implementation of section 3514(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, as added by section 8; and (ii) staffing, training, and other actions necessary to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual assault; and (B) $25,051,000 shall remain available until expended for capital asset management at the Academy. (2) For expenses necessary to support the State maritime academies, $29,550,000, of which— (A) $2,400,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2018, for the Student Incentive Program; (B) $3,000,000 shall remain available until expended for direct payments to such academies; (C) $22,000,000 shall remain available until expended for maintenance and repair of State maritime academy training vessels; (D) $1,800,000 shall remain available until expended for training ship fuel assistance; and (E) $350,000 shall remain available until expended for expenses to improve the monitoring of the service obligations of graduates. (3) For expenses necessary to support the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program, $36,000,000, which shall remain available until expended. (4) For expenses necessary to support Maritime Administration operations and programs, $58,694,000. (5) For expenses necessary to dispose of vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, $20,000,000, which shall remain available until expended. (6) For administrative expenses associated with the program authorized under chapter 537 (b) Assistance for small shipyards and maritime communities Section 54101(i) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 2015 through 2017 2018 through 2020 (2) in paragraph (1), by striking $5,000,000 $7,500,00 (3) in paragraph (2), by striking $25,000,000 $27,500,000 3. Removal adjunct professor limit at United States Merchant Marine Academy Section 51317 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (2) by striking subsections (c) and (d). 4. Acceptance of guarantees in conjunction with partial donations for major projects of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (a) Guarantees Chapter 513 51320. Acceptance of guarantees with gifts for major projects (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Major project The term major project (A) the purchase or other procurement of real or personal property; or (B) the construction, renovation, or repair of real or personal property. (2) Major United States commercial bank The term major United States commercial bank (A) is an insured bank (as defined in section 3(h) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1813(h) (B) is headquartered in the United States; and (C) has total net assets of an amount considered by the Maritime Administrator to qualify the bank as a major bank. (3) Major United States investment management firm The term major United States investment management firm (A) any broker or dealer (as such terms are defined in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( 15 U.S.C. 78c (B) any investment adviser or provider of investment supervisory services (as such terms are defined in section 202 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ( 15 U.S.C. 80b–2 (C) a major United States commercial bank that— (i) is headquartered in the United States; and (ii) holds for the account of others investment assets in a total amount considered by the Maritime Administrator to qualify the bank as a major investment management firm. (4) Qualified guarantee The term qualified guarantee (A) is made by one or more persons in connection with a donation for the project of a total amount in cash or securities that the Maritime Administrator determines is sufficient to defray a substantial portion of the total cost of the project; (B) is made to facilitate or expedite the completion of the project in reasonable anticipation that other donors will contribute sufficient funds or other resources in amounts sufficient to pay for completion of the project; (C) is set forth as a written agreement providing that the donor will furnish in cash or securities, in addition to the donor's other gift or gifts for the project, any additional amount that may become necessary for paying the cost of completing the project by reason of a failure to obtain from other donors or sources funds or other resources in amounts sufficient to pay the cost of completing the project; and (D) is accompanied by— (i) an irrevocable and unconditional standby letter of credit for the benefit of the United States Merchant Marine Academy that is in the amount of the guarantee and is issued by a major United States commercial bank; or (ii) a qualified account control agreement. (5) Qualified account control agreement The term qualified account control agreement (A) ensures the availability of sufficient funds or other financial resources to pay the amount guaranteed during the period of the guarantee; (B) provides for the perfection of a security interest in the assets of the account for the United States for the benefit of the United States Merchant Marine Academy with the highest priority available for liens and security interests under applicable law; (C) requires the donor to maintain in an account with the investment management firm assets having a total value that is not less than 130 percent of the amount guaranteed; and (D) requires the investment management firm, whenever the value of the account is less than the value required to be maintained under subparagraph (C), to liquidate any noncash assets in the account and reinvest the proceeds in Treasury bills issued under section 3104 of title 31. (b) Acceptance authority Subject to subsection (d), the Maritime Administrator may accept a qualified guarantee from a donor or donors for the completion of a major project for the benefit of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. (c) Obligation authority The amount of a qualified guarantee accepted under this section shall be considered as contract authority to provide obligation authority for purposes of Federal fiscal and contractual requirements. Funds available for a project for which such a guarantee has been accepted may be obligated and expended for the project without regard to whether the total amount of funds and other resources available for the project (not taking into account the amount of the guarantee) is sufficient to pay for completion of the project. (d) Notice The Maritime Administrator may not accept a qualified guarantee under this section for the completion of a major project until 30 days after the date on which a report of the facts concerning the proposed guarantee is submitted to Congress. (e) Prohibition on commingling funds The Maritime Administrator may not enter into any contract or other transaction involving the use of a qualified guarantee and appropriated funds in the same contract or transaction. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 513 51320. Acceptance of guarantees with gifts for major projects. . 5. Authority to pay conveyance or transfer expenses in connection with acceptance of a gift to the United States Merchant Marine Academy Section 51315 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following: (f) Payment of expenses The Maritime Administrator may pay all necessary expenses in connection with the conveyance or transfer of a gift, devise, or bequest accepted under this section. . 6. Authority to participate in Federal, State or other research grants (a) Research grants Chapter 513 51321. Grants for scientific and educational research (a) Defined term In this section, the term qualifying research grant (1) is awarded on a competitive basis by the Federal Government (except for the Department of Transportation), a State, a corporation, a fund, a foundation, an educational institution, or a similar entity that is organized and operated primarily for scientific or educational purposes; and (2) is to be used to carry out a research project with a scientific or educational purpose. (b) Acceptance of qualifying research grants Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States Merchant Marine Academy may compete for and accept qualifying research grants if the work under the grant is to be carried out by a professor or instructor of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. (c) Administration of grant funds (1) Establishment of account The Maritime Administrator shall establish a separate account for administering funds received from research grants under this section. (2) Use of grant funds The Superintendent shall use grant funds deposited into the account established pursuant to paragraph (1) in accordance with applicable regulations and the terms and conditions of the respective grants. (d) Related expenses Subject to such limitations as may be provided in appropriations Acts, appropriations available for the United States Merchant Marine Academy may be used to pay expenses incurred by the Academy in applying for, and otherwise pursuing, a qualifying research grant. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 513 51321. Grants for scientific and educational research. . 7. Continuing funding for the United States Merchant Marine Academy Section 51301 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (d) Continuing funding (1) In general Out of any funds in the general fund of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are hereby appropriated such sums as may be necessary for operations of the United States Merchant Marine Academy for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations are not in effect for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, for fiscal year 2018, and for each fiscal year thereafter. (2) Termination Amounts made available for a fiscal year under this subsection shall remain available until the earlier of— (A) the enactment into law of an appropriation for such fiscal year (including a continuing appropriation) for such operations); or (B) the enactment into law for the Maritime Administration of the applicable regular appropriation for such fiscal year, or continuing appropriations resolution for such fiscal year, without any appropriation for such operations. . 8. Access to satellite phone during Sea Year program Section 3514 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 ( Public Law 114–328 (1) by striking Not later than (a) Vessel operator requirements Not later than ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (b) Satellite phone access The Maritime Administrator shall ensure that each student participating in the Sea Year program is provided or has access to a functional satellite communication device. A student may not be denied from using such device whenever the student determines that such use is necessary to prevent or report sexual harassment or assault. . 9. Assistance for small shipyards and maritime communities Section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: (b) Awards (1) In general In providing assistance under the program, the Administrator shall take into account— (A) the economic circumstances and conditions of maritime communities; (B) projects that would be effective in fostering efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration; and (C) projects that would be effective in fostering employee skills and enhancing productivity. (2) Timing of award (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall award grants under this section not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the appropriations Act for the fiscal year concerned. (B) Reallocation of unused funds If a grant is awarded under this section and, for any reason, the grant funds are not used by the grantee, the Administrator may reallocate such unused funds to award another grant under this section. ; and (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: (3) Buy american (A) Requirement A grant provided under this section may be used for a project only if the steel, iron, and manufactured goods used in the project are produced in the United States. (B) Waiver The Administrator may waive subparagraph (A) if the Administrator determines that the waiver would be permitted under section 5323(j)(2) of title 49. .

Summary: Maritime Administration Authorization and Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2018 This bill addresses several aspects of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), including eliminating the limitation on the number of contractors that can provide services as adjunct professors in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; authorizing MARAD to accept a qualified guarantee from a donor or donors for the completion of a major project for the benefit of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; authorizing MARAD to pay all necessary expenses in connection with the conveyance or transfer of a gift, devise, or bequest to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; requiring MARAD to ensure that each cadet from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy who is participating in the Sea Year program is provided a functional satellite communication device; and authorizing MARAD to provide assistance to small shipyards for capital improvements and for maritime training programs to foster technical skills and operational productivity relating to shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries.