manding coursework today’s Midshipmen are re-
quired to complete. 
(5) Rehabilitating and modernizing the campus 
infrastructure at the United States Merchant Ma-
rine Academy is necessary to ensuring current and 
future generations of Midshipmen receive a first- 
class education. 
(b) SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.— 
It is the sense of the House of Representatives— 
(1) to ensure that the United States continues 
to have a sufficient number of service-obligated li-
censed merchant mariners to meet current and fu-
ture national security needs, the Maritime Adminis-
tration and the Department of Transportation have 
a responsibility to provide suitable academic, train-
ing, and dormitory facilities at the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy by rapidly implementing 
a comprehensive plan for campus-wide moderniza-
tion in accordance with section 51329 of title 46, 
United States Code, (referred to in this section as 
the ‘‘Campus Modernization Plan’’) and providing 
sufficient accountability and oversight to ensure that 
milestones in such plan are met; 
(2) in developing the comprehensive Campus 
Modernization Plan for the United States Merchant 
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Marine Academy, the Maritime Administration, and 
the Department of Transportation should utilize, to 
the maximum extent practicable, the ‘‘Merchant Ma-
rine Academy Full Speed Ahead Plan’’ developed by 
the Maritime Security Infrastructure Council as 
summarized in the Congressional Record, dated Feb-
ruary 28, 2024; 
(3) given the conditions of the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy as of the date of enact-
ment of this section, a comprehensive, campus-wide 
modernization is needed to significantly upgrade or 
replace facilities throughout the campus; and 
(4) the Maritime Administration and the De-
partment of Transportation should identify opportu-
nities to utilize design-build contracts to increase de-
livery times and reduce costs. 
(c) CAMPUS MODERNIZATION PLAN.—Chapter 513 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘§ 51329. 10-year campus modernization plan 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
develop and begin to implement a comprehensive Campus 
Modernization Plan (referred to in this section as the 
‘Campus Modernization Plan’), informed by the ‘United 
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States Merchant Marine Academy Full Speed Ahead Plan’ 
developed by the Maritime Security Infrastructure Council 
as summarized in the Congressional Record, dated Feb-
ruary 28, 2024, to carry out a campus-wide modernization 
at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. 
‘‘(b) OBJECTIVES.—In carrying out the Campus 
Modernization Plan, the Administrator shall prioritize the 
following objectives: 
‘‘(1) Promoting modern education best prac-
tices by constructing learning facilities that leverage 
state-of-the art technologies and learning best prac-
tices. 
‘‘(2) Providing Midshipmen with access to fa-
cilities needed to pass the United States Coast 
Guard License Exam for Third Mate or Third As-
sistant Engineer Unlimited. 
‘‘(3) Ensuring Midshipmen have access to fa-
cilities sufficient to enable Midshipmen to maintain 
physical readiness standards required of United 
States Navy officers. 
‘‘(4) Developing campus infrastructure to en-
sure the Academy attracts a diverse pool of appli-
cants. 
‘‘(5) Providing facilities that enable industry 
engagement and continuing education opportunities. 
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‘‘(6) Maintaining a safe and secure campus en-
vironment for all Midshipmen, which shall include 
any facilities or infrastructure needed to meet the 
requirements of sections 51326, 51327, or 51328. 
‘‘(7) Implementing, to the extent practicable, 
the facilities and infrastructure recommendations in 
chapter 4 of the report titled ‘Organizational Assess-
ment of the United States Merchant Marine Acad-
emy: A Path Forward’ issued by the National Acad-
emy of Public Administration in November 2021. 
‘‘(c) INCLUSIONS.—In meeting the objectives de-
scribed in subsection (b), the Campus Modernization Plan 
shall include— 
‘‘(1) construction of new facilities or significant 
renovation of existing facilities to provide— 
‘‘(A) Standards of Training, Certification, 
and Watchkeeping applications laboratories; 
‘‘(B) a Safety Of Life At Sea training 
pool; 
‘‘(C) engineering powerplant laboratories; 
‘‘(D) athletic facilities that meet the needs 
of both male and female students; 
‘‘(E) enhanced waterfront facilities, to in-
clude a new pier; 
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‘‘(F) a visitor welcome center and main 
campus security office building; 
‘‘(G) housing facilities for senior staff and 
faculty; and 
‘‘(H) sufficient parking facilities for fac-
ulty, staff, and campus visitors; 
‘‘(2) upgrades to all classrooms and laboratories 
with modern information technology infrastructure; 
‘‘(3) a campus-wide upgrade and retrofit of— 
‘‘(A) the electric distribution power grid; 
‘‘(B) the sanitary sewer system piping; 
‘‘(C) the storm drainage system; and 
‘‘(D) the drinking water system, including 
development of a separate and redundant fire 
suppression system; and 
‘‘(4) renovations of existing campus facilities to 
ensure all campus facilities— 
‘‘(A) are structurally sound; 
‘‘(B) have reliable heating and air condi-
tioning systems; 
‘‘(C) have functioning plumbing and elec-
trical systems; 
‘‘(D) are protected from the elements, in-
cluding through roof replacements and window 
repairs or replacements, as needed; 
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‘‘(E) are accessible in accordance with the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and 
‘‘(F) have working fire alarm and fire sup-
pression systems. 
‘‘(d) REQUIREMENTS.—For the duration of the Cam-
pus Modernization Plan, the Administrator shall ensure 
that the Academy remains fully operational. 
‘‘(e) USE OF A FEDERAL CONSTRUCTION AGENT.— 
Consistent with the requirements of section 3515(d)(3) of 
the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263), the Adminis-
trator shall seek to enter into an agreement with a Federal 
construction agent to carry out the Campus Modernization 
Plan authorized under subsection (a). 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Transportation, out of the Maritime Security Trust Fund 
established under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, for the 
phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of 
facilities and infrastructure at the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy, in accordance with this section, includ-
ing the Campus Modernization Plan authorized in sub-
section (a), $1,020,000,000 of which— 
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‘‘(1) $54,000,000 is authorized to be appro-
priated for fiscal year 2026 for design and planning 
purposes, which shall be used for the development of 
a design-build plan for the phased rehabilitation, 
modernization, and construction of facilities and in-
frastructure at the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy in accordance with the Campus Moderniza-
tion Plan; and 
‘‘(2) for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, 
$107,333,333 is authorized to be appropriated for 
each fiscal year for construction and contingency 
purchases necessary to execute the Campus Mod-
ernization Plan.’’. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 513 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘51329. 10-Year Campus Modernization Plan.’’. 
Æ 
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