1688 
(B) $15,000,000 shall be for the United 
States marine highway program, including to 
make grants authorized under section 55601 of 
title 46, United States Code; 
(C) $2,000,000 shall be for the Office of 
Environment and Compliance, including to as-
sist in the environmental review of grant and 
permit programs administered by the Maritime 
Administration; and 
(D) $73,500,000 shall be for headquarters 
operations expenses. 
(5) For expenses necessary for the disposal of 
obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve 
Fleet of the Maritime Administration, $6,000,000. 
(6) For expenses necessary to maintain and 
preserve a United States flag merchant marine to 
serve the national security needs of the United 
States under chapter 531 of title 46, United States 
Code, $390,000,000. 
(7) For expenses necessary to maintain and 
preserve a United States flag merchant marine to 
serve the national security needs of the United 
States under chapter 534 of title 46, United States 
Code, $122,400,000.
1689 
(8) For expenses necessary for the loan guar-
antee program authorized under chapter 537 of title 
46, United States Code, $33,700,000, of which— 
(A) $30,000,000 may be used for the cost 
(as such term is defined in section 502(5) of 
the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 
U.S.C. 661a(5)) of loan guarantees under the 
program; and 
(B) $3,700,000 may be used for adminis-
trative expenses relating to loan guarantee com-
mitments under the program. 
(9) For expenses necessary to provide assist-
ance to small shipyards and for maritime training 
programs authorized under section 54101 of title 46, 
United States Code, $105,000,000. 
(10) For expenses necessary to implement the 
port infrastructure development program, as author-
ized under section 54301 of title 46, United States 
Code, subject to the limitation under subsection (b), 
$550,000,000, to remain available until expended. 
(b) LIMITATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—No funds may be obligated 
or expended for the port infrastructure development 
program pursuant to subsection (a)(9) to make a 
grant to be used for the purchase of fully automated
1690 
cargo handling equipment that is remotely operated 
or remotely monitored with or without the exercise 
of human intervention or control, if the Secretary of 
Transportation determines such equipment would re-
sult in a net loss of jobs within a port or port ter-
minal. 
(2) REPORT.—If the Secretary makes a deter-
mination pursuant to paragraph (1), not later than 
three days after the date on which such determina-
tion is made, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
a report that includes the data and analysis used by 
the Secretary in making such determination. 
Subtitle B—Maritime 
Infrastructure 
SEC. 3511. CLARIFICATION REGARDING USE OF PORT IN-
FRASTRUCTURE 
DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM 
FUNDS TO REPLACE CHINESE PORT CRANE 
HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE. 
Section 54301(a)(3)(A)(ii)(III) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘including projects to improve 
port resilience;’’ and inserting ‘‘including—’’; and
1691 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
items: 
‘‘(aa) projects to improve 
port resilience; and 
‘‘(bb) projects to upgrade or 
replace port cranes or parts of 
port cranes (including hardware 
and software) that— 
‘‘(AA) were installed or 
provided by the People’s Re-
public of China or any de-
partment, ministry, center, 
agency, or instrumentality of 
the Government of the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China; or 
‘‘(BB) are maintained, 
controlled, or sponsored by 
the People’s Republic of 
China or any department, 
ministry, center, agency, or 
instrumentality of the Gov-
ernment of the People’s Re-
public of China;’’.
1692 
SEC. 3512. CLARIFICATION OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES RE-
LATING TO DEEPWATER PORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5(a) of the Deepwater 
Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504(a)) is amended by 
striking the first sentence and inserting ‘‘Notwithstanding 
section 888(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 468(b)), the Secretary shall have the authority to 
issue regulations to carry out the purposes and provisions 
of this Act, in accordance with the provisions of section 
553 of title 5, United States Code, without regard to sub-
section (a) thereof.’’. 
(b) NEPA COMPLIANCE.—Section 5 of the Deep-
water Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1504) is amended by 
striking subsection (f) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(f) NEPA COMPLIANCE.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF LEAD AGENCY.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘lead agency’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 111 of the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336e). 
‘‘(2) LEAD AGENCY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For all applications, 
the Department of Transportation shall be the 
Federal lead agency for purposes of the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
1693 
‘‘(B) EFFECT OF COMPLIANCE.—Compli-
ance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) in accord-
ance with subparagraph (A) shall fulfill the re-
quirement of the Federal lead agency in car-
rying out the responsibilities under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.) pursuant to this Act.’’. 
(c) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall transfer the 
authorities provided to the Coast Guard in part 148 
of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect 
on the date of the enactment of this Act), except as 
provided in paragraph (2), to the Secretary of 
Transportation. 
(2) RETENTION
OF
AUTHORITY.—The Com-
mandant shall retain responsibility for authorities 
pertaining to design, construction, equipment, and 
operation of deepwater ports and navigational safe-
ty. 
(3) UPDATES
TO
AUTHORITY.—As soon as 
practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall issue such reg-
1694 
ulations as are necessary to reflect the updates to 
authorities prescribed by this subsection. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion, or the amendments made by this section, may be con-
strued to limit the authorities of other governmental agen-
cies previously delegated authorities of the Deepwater 
Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) or any other 
law. 
(e) APPLICATIONS.—Nothing in this section, or the 
amendments made by this section, shall apply to any ap-
plication submitted before the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 3513. ELIGIBILITY OF SHORE POWER PROJECTS 
UNDER PORT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In making port infrastructure de-
velopment grants under section 54301 of title 46, United 
States Code, for fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall treat a project described in subsection (b) 
as— 
(1) having met the requirements of paragraph 
(1) and (6)(A)(i) of section 54301(a) of such title; 
and 
(2) being an eligible project under section 
5430l(a)(3) of such title.
1695 
(b) PROJECT DESCRIBED.—A project described in 
this subsection is a project to provide shore power at a 
port that services both of the following: 
(1) Passenger vessels described in section 
3507(k) of title 46, United States Code. 
(2) Vessels that move goods or freight. 
Subtitle C—Reports 
SEC. 
3521. 
REPORT 
ON 
USE 
OF 
COMMERCIAL 
CON-
TRACTING AGENT FOR CREWING AND OPER-
ATION OF MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND VES-
SELS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than April 1, 2026, the 
Secretary of the Navy, in consultation with the Adminis-
trator of the Maritime Administration, shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report on the use of a commercial 
contracting agent for the crewing and operation of mili-
tary sealift command vessels. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall contain each of the following: 
(1) An assessment of whether the crewing and 
operation of military sealift command vessels 
through the use of a commercial contracting agent 
would mitigate the shortage of civilian mariners and
1696 
increase availability of military sealift command ves-
sels. 
(2) Any examples of operations within the Mili-
tary Sealift Command being carried out through a 
contract, as of the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(3) An identification of potential cost savings 
associated with the crewing and operation of military 
sealift command vessels through the use of a com-
mercial contracting agent. 
(4) An identification of specific military sealift 
command vessels or missions that may be suitable 
for crewing or operation through the use of a com-
mercial contracting agent. 
Subtitle D—Other Matters 
SEC. 3531. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY 
CAMPUS MODERNIZATION PLAN. 
(a) CAMPUS MODERNIZATION PLAN.—Chapter 513 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 51329. Campus modernization plan 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
comprehensive Campus modernization plan for the United 
States Merchant Marine Academy. Such plan shall provide 
for each of the following:
1697 
‘‘(1) The construction of new facilities or the 
significant renovation of existing facilities to pro-
vide— 
‘‘(A) standards of training, certification, 
and watchkeeping applications laboratories; 
‘‘(B) a safety of life at sea training pool; 
‘‘(C) engineering power plant laboratories; 
‘‘(D) athletic facilities that meet the needs 
of both male and female midshipmen; 
‘‘(E) enhanced waterfront facilities, includ-
ing a new pier; 
‘‘(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 labora-
tories with modern information technology infra-
structure. 
‘‘(2) 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
1698 
‘‘(D) the drinking water system, including 
development of a separate and redundant fire 
suppression system. 
‘‘(3) Renovations of campus facilities to ensure 
that 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; 
‘‘(E) are accessible in accordance with the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); and 
‘‘(F) have working fire alarm and fire sup-
pression systems. 
‘‘(b) USE OF 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.’’.
1699 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 513 of title 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘51329. Campus modernization plan.’’. 
(c) DEADLINE
FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Sec-
retary of Transportation shall develop and begin to imple-
ment the campus modernization plan required under sec-
tion 51329 of title 46, United States Code, by not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3532. CARGOES PROCURED, FURNISHED, OR FI-
NANCED BY UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 
Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘When the 
United States Government’’ and inserting ‘‘Except 
as provided in subsection ( c), when the United 
States Government’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) 
as subsections (d) through (g), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION.—When the Department of Trans-
portation procures, contracts for, or otherwise obtains for 
its own account, or provides financing in any way with 
Federal funds or advances funds or credits, for the fur-
nishing or obtaining of the equipment, materials, or com-
1700 
modities, the Secretary of Transportation or recipient of 
such financing shall take steps necessary and practicable 
to ensure that 100 percent of the gross tonnage of the 
equipment, materials, or commodities (computed sepa-
rately for dry bulk carriers, dry cargo liners, and tankers) 
which may be transported on ocean vessels is transported 
on privately-owned commercial vessels of the United 
States, as provided under subsection (b), to the extent 
such vessels are available at fair and reasonable rates for 
commercial vessels of the United States, in a manner that 
will ensure a fair and reasonable participation of commer-
cial vessels of the United States in those cargoes by geo-
graphic areas.’’. 
SEC. 3533. TREATMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
MARITIME ACADEMY AS A STATE MARITIME 
ACADEMY. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the require-
ments of section 51506 of title 46, United States Code, 
and except as provided in subsection (b), during the two- 
year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall treat the Uni-
versity of Louisiana State Maritime Academy in the same 
manner as a State maritime academy under chapter 515 
of title 46, United States Code.
1701 
(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply after 
the date on which the University of Louisiana is fully rec-
ognized as a State maritime academy under chapter 515 
of title 46, United States Code. 
SEC. 3534. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF MISSILE IN-
STRUMENTATION RANGE SAFETY VESSELS. 
(a) VESSEL CONSTRUCTION.— 
(1) COMPLETION OF DESIGN.—Subject to the 
availability of appropriations, the Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with the Director of 
the Missile Defense Agency, shall complete the de-
sign of missile instrumentation range safety vessels 
for the National Defense Reserve Fleet to allow for 
the construction of such vessels to begin in fiscal 
year 2027. 
(2) AGREEMENT WITH VESSEL CONSTRUCTION 
MANAGER.—Notwithstanding section 8679 of title 
10, United States Code, and subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary of the Trans-
portation, in consultation with the Director of the 
Missile Defense Agency, shall seek to enter into an 
agreement with an appropriate vessel construction 
manager under which the vessel construction man-
ager shall enter into a contract for the construction
1702 
of not more than two such vessels in accordance 
with this section. 
(3) DESIGN
STANDARDS
AND
CONSTRUCTION 
PRACTICES.—Subject to paragraph (2), a vessel con-
structed pursuant to this section shall be con-
structed using commercial design standards and 
commercial construction practices that are consistent 
with the best interests of the Federal Government. 
(b) CONSULTATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL ENTI-
TIES.—The Secretary of Transportation shall consult and 
coordinate with the Director of the Missile Defense Agen-
cy and may consult with the heads of other appropriate 
Federal agencies regarding the vessel referred to in sub-
section (a) and activities associated with such vessel. 
(c) PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR USED VES-
SELS.—None of the funds authorized to be appropriated 
by this Act or otherwise made available to carry out this 
section may be used for the procurement of any used ves-
sel. 
(d) MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY TRANSFER AUTHOR-
ITY.—The Director of the Missile Defense Agency may 
transfer amounts authorized to be appropriated for the 
Missile Defense Agency for research, development, test, 
and evaluation to the Secretary of Transportation, to be 
used for the purposes authorized by this section. Any
1703 
amount transferred pursuant to this subsection shall re-
tain its original period of availability. 
DIVISION D—FUNDING TABLES 
SEC. 4001. AUTHORIZATION OF AMOUNTS IN FUNDING TA-
BLES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Whenever a funding table in this 
division specifies a dollar amount authorized for a project, 
program, or activity, the obligation and expenditure of the 
specified dollar amount for the project, program, or activ-
ity is hereby authorized, subject to the availability of ap-
propriations. 
(b) MERIT-BASED DECISIONS.—A decision to com-
mit, obligate, or expend funds with or to a specific entity 
on the basis of a dollar amount authorized pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall— 
(1) be based on merit-based selection proce-
dures in accordance with the requirements of sec-
tions 2304(k) and 2374 of title 10, United States 
Code, or on competitive procedures; and 
(2) comply with other applicable provisions of 
law. 
(c) RELATIONSHIP TO TRANSFER AND PROGRAM-
MING AUTHORITY.—An amount specified in the funding 
tables in this division may be transferred or repro-
grammed under a transfer or reprogramming authority
1704 
provided by another provision of this Act or by other law. 
The transfer or reprogramming of an amount specified in 
such funding tables shall not count against a ceiling on 
such transfers or reprogrammings under section 1001 of 
this Act or any other provision of law, unless such transfer 
or reprogramming would move funds between appropria-
tion accounts. 
(d) APPLICABILITY TO CLASSIFIED ANNEX.—This 
section applies to any classified annex that accompanies 
this Act. 
(e) ORAL
AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS.—No 
oral or written communication concerning any amount 
specified in the funding tables in this division shall super-
sede the requirements of this section. 
TITLE XLI—PROCUREMENT 
SEC. 4101. PROCUREMENT. 
SEC. 4101. PROCUREMENT 
(In Thousands of Dollars) 
Line 
Item 
FY 2026 
Request 
House 
Authorized 
AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, ARMY 
FIXED WING 
006 
HADES PLATFORM, PAYLOADS/PED, AND INTEGRATION ..........................
26,850 
26,850 
ROTARY 
009 
AH–64 APACHE BLOCK IIIA REMAN ..................................................................
1,669 
91,669 
3 additional aircraft .............................................................................................
[90,000 ] 
013 
UH–60 BLACKHAWK M MODEL (MYP) ...............................................................
732,060 
732,060 
017 
CH–47 HELICOPTER ...............................................................................................
618,798 
618,798 
018 
CH–47 HELICOPTER AP .........................................................................................
61,421 
61,421 
MODIFICATION OF AIRCRAFT 
027 
AH–64 MODS .............................................................................................................
125,236 
125,236 
028 
SCALABLE CONTROL INTERFACE (SCI) ...........................................................
1,257 
1,257 
029 
CH–47 CARGO HELICOPTER MODS (MYP) ........................................................
17,709 
17,709 
034 
UTILITY HELICOPTER MODS ..............................................................................
33,659 
33,659 
036 
NETWORK AND MISSION PLAN ..........................................................................
40,472 
40,472 
037 
COMMS, NAV SURVEILLANCE ..............................................................................
11,566 
11,566 
039 
AVIATION ASSURED PNT ......................................................................................
49,475 
49,475 
040 
GATM ROLLUP .........................................................................................................
4,651 
4,651 
GROUND SUPPORT AVIONICS 
045 
AIRCRAFT SURVIVABILITY EQUIPMENT .........................................................
129,167 
129,167 
047 
CMWS ..........................................................................................................................
38,419 
38,419 
048 
COMMON INFRARED COUNTERMEASURES (CIRCM) .....................................
225,647 
215,647 
Prorgam decrease .................................................................................................
[–10,000 ] 
OTHER SUPPORT 
050 
COMMON GROUND EQUIPMENT .........................................................................
29,489 
29,489 
052 
AIRCREW INTEGRATED SYSTEMS .....................................................................
14,986 
14,986 
053 
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ........................................................................................
24,213 
24,213