I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 321 
To allow for a contract for operation of Melville Hall at the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy, after receipt of a gift from the United 
States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, 
Inc., for renovation of such hall and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 13, 2015 
Mr. SESSIONS (for himself and Mr. JOLLY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To allow for a contract for operation of Melville Hall at 
the United States Merchant Marine Academy, after re-
ceipt of a gift from the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc., for 
renovation of such hall and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘U.S. Merchant Marine 
Academy Improvement Act of 2015’’. 
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SEC. 2. MELVILLE HALL OF UNITED STATES MERCHANT 
MARINE ACADEMY. 
(a) GIFT TO THE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY.— 
The Maritime Administrator may accept a gift of money 
from the Foundation under section 51315 of title 46, 
United States Code, for the purpose of renovating Melville 
Hall on the campus of the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy. 
(b) COVERED GIFTS.—A gift described in this sub-
section is a gift under subsection (a) that the Maritime 
Administrator determines exceeds the sum of— 
(1) the minimum amount that is sufficient to 
ensure the renovation of Melville Hall in accordance 
with the capital improvement plan of the United 
States Merchant Marine Academy that was in effect 
on the date of enactment of this Act; and 
(2) 25 percent of the amount described in para-
graph (1). 
(c) OPERATION CONTRACTS.—Subject to subsection 
(d), in the case that the Maritime Administrator accepts 
a gift of money described in subsection (b), the Maritime 
Administrator may enter into a contract with the Founda-
tion for the operation of Melville Hall to make available 
facilities for, among other possible uses, official academy 
functions, third-party catering functions, and industry 
events and conferences. 
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(d) CONTRACT TERMS.—The contract described in 
subsection (c) shall be for such period and on such terms 
as the Maritime Administrator considers appropriate, in-
cluding a provision, mutually agreeable to the Maritime 
Administrator and the Foundation, that— 
(1) requires the Foundation— 
(A) at the expense solely of the Foundation 
through the term of the contract to maintain 
Melville Hall in a condition that is as good as 
or better than the condition Melville Hall was 
in on the later of— 
(i) the date that the renovation of 
Melville Hall was completed; or 
(ii) the date that the Foundation ac-
cepted Melville Hall after it was tendered 
to the Foundation by the Maritime Admin-
istrator; and 
(B) to deposit all proceeds from the oper-
ation of Melville Hall, after expenses necessary 
for the operation and maintenance of Melville 
Hall, into the account of the Regimental Affairs 
Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality or suc-
cessor entity, to be used solely for the morale 
and welfare of the cadets of the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy; and 
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(2) prohibits the use of Melville Hall as lodging 
or an office by any person for more than 4 days in 
any calendar year other than— 
(A) by the United States; or 
(B) for the administration and operation of 
Melville Hall. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CONTRACT.—The term ‘‘contract’’ includes 
any modification, extension, or renewal of the con-
tract. 
(2) FOUNDATION.—In this section, the term 
‘‘Foundation’’ means the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy Alumni Association and Founda-
tion, Inc. 
(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed under section 3105 of title 41, 
United States Code, as requiring the Maritime Adminis-
trator to award a contract for the operation of Melville 
Hall to the Foundation. 
Æ 
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