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 fol-
lowing 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. 
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 Board of Visitors Enhancement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY 
BOARD OF VISITORS. 
Section 51312 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘§ 51312. Board of Visitors 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A Board of Visitors to the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy (referred to in 
this section as the ‘Board’ and the ‘Academy’, respec-
tively) shall be established to provide independent advice 
and recommendations on matters relating to the United 
States Merchant Marine Academy. 
‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of the enactment of the U.S. Mer-
chant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Enhance-
ment Act, the Board shall be composed of— 
‘‘(A) 2 Senators appointed by the chair-
man, in consultation with the ranking member, 
of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate; 
‘‘(B) 3 members of the House of Rep-
resentatives appointed by the chairman, in con-
sultation with the ranking member, of the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives; 
‘‘(C) 1 Senator appointed by the Vice 
President, who shall be a member of the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
‘‘(D) 2 members of the House of Rep-
resentatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
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House of Representatives, in consultation with 
the Minority Leader, at least 1 of whom shall 
be a member of the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives; 
‘‘(E) the Commander of the United States 
Transportation Command; 
‘‘(F) the Commander of the Military Sea-
lift Command; 
‘‘(G) the Assistant Commandant for Pre-
vention Policy of the United States Coast 
Guard; 
‘‘(H) 4 individuals appointed by the Presi-
dent; and 
‘‘(I) as ex officio members— 
‘‘(i) the chairman of the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate; 
‘‘(ii) the chairman of the Committee 
on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives; 
‘‘(iii) the chairman of the Advisory 
Board to the Academy established under 
section 51313; and 
‘‘(iv) the member of the House of 
Representatives in whose congressional dis-
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trict the Academy is located, as a non-vot-
ing member, unless such member of the 
House of Representatives is appointed as a 
voting member of the Board under sub-
paragraph (B) or (D). 
‘‘(2) PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES.—Of the indi-
viduals appointed by the President under paragraph 
(1)(H)— 
‘‘(A) at least 2 shall be graduates of the 
Academy; 
‘‘(B) at least 1 shall be a senior corporate 
officer from a United States maritime shipping 
company that participates in the Maritime Se-
curity Program, or in any Maritime Adminis-
tration program providing incentives for compa-
nies to register their vessels in the United 
States, and this appointment shall rotate bien-
nially among such companies; and 
‘‘(C) 1 or more may be a Senate-confirmed 
Presidential appointee, a member of the Senior 
Executive Service, or an officer of flag-rank 
who from the United States Coast Guard, the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion, or any of the military services that com-
mission graduates of the Academy, exclusive of 
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the Board members described in subparagraph 
(E), (F), or (G) of paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) TERM OF SERVICE.—Each member of the 
Board shall serve for a term of 2 years commencing 
at the beginning of each Congress, except that any 
member whose term on the Board has expired shall 
continue to serve until a successor is designated. 
‘‘(4) VACANCIES.—If a member of the Board is 
no longer able to serve on the Board or resigns, the 
Designated Federal Officer selected under subsection 
(g)(2) shall immediately notify the official who ap-
pointed such member. Not later than 60 days after 
that notification, such official shall designate a re-
placement to serve the remainder of such member’s 
term. 
‘‘(5) CURRENT
MEMBERS.—Each member of 
the Board serving as a member of the Board on the 
date of the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine 
Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act shall 
continue to serve on the Board for the remainder of 
such member’s term. 
‘‘(6) DESIGNATION
AND
RESPONSIBILITY
OF 
SUBSTITUTE BOARD MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(A) 
AUTHORITY
TO
DESIGNATE.—A 
member of the Board described in subpara-
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graph (E), (F), or (G) of paragraph (1) or sub-
paragraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (2) may, if 
unable to attend or participate in an activity 
described in subsection (d), (e), or (f), des-
ignate another individual to serve as a sub-
stitute member of the Board, on a temporary 
basis, to attend or participate in such activity. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENTS.—A substitute mem-
ber of the Board designated under subpara-
graph (A) shall be— 
‘‘(i) an individual who has been ap-
pointed by the President and confirmed by 
the Senate; 
‘‘(ii) a member of the Senior Execu-
tive Service; or 
‘‘(iii) an officer of flag-rank who is 
employed by— 
‘‘(I) the United States Coast 
Guard; 
‘‘(II) the United States Trans-
portation Command; or 
‘‘(III) the Military Sealift Com-
mand. 
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‘‘(C) PARTICIPATION.—A substitute mem-
ber of the Board designated under subpara-
graph (A)— 
‘‘(i) shall be permitted to fully partici-
pate in the proceedings and activities of 
the Board; 
‘‘(ii) shall report back to the member 
on the Board’s activities not later than 15 
days following the substitute member’s 
participation in such activities; and 
‘‘(iii) shall be permitted to participate 
in the preparation of reports described in 
paragraph (j) related to any proceedings or 
activities of the Board in which such sub-
stitute member participates. 
‘‘(c) CHAIRPERSON.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On a biennial basis, the 
Board shall select from among its members, a mem-
ber of the House of Representatives or a Senator to 
serve as the Chairperson. 
‘‘(2) ROTATION.—A member of the House of 
Representatives and a member of the Senate shall 
alternately serve as the Chair of the Board on a bi-
ennial basis. 
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‘‘(3) TERM.—An individual may not serve as 
Chairperson for more than 1 consecutive term. 
‘‘(d) MEETINGS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall meet sev-
eral times each year as provided for in the Charter 
described in paragraph (2)(B), including at least 1 
meeting held at the Academy. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION
AND
CONSIDERATION.—Not 
later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of 
Visitors Enhancement Act, the Designated Federal 
Officer selected under subsection (g)(2) shall orga-
nize a meeting of the Board for the purposes of— 
‘‘(A) selecting a Chairperson; and 
‘‘(B) considering an official Charter for the 
Board, which shall provide for the meeting of 
the Board several times each year. 
‘‘(e) VISITING THE ACADEMY.— 
‘‘(1) ANNUAL VISIT.—The Board shall visit the 
Academy annually on a date selected by the Board, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation 
and the Superintendent of the Academy. 
‘‘(2) OTHER VISITS.—In cooperation with the 
Superintendent, the Board or its members may 
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make other visits to the Academy in connection with 
the duties of the Board. 
‘‘(3) ACCESS.—While visiting the Academy 
under this subsection, members of the Board shall 
have reasonable access to the grounds, facilities, 
midshipmen, faculty, staff, and other personnel of 
the Academy for the purpose of carrying out the du-
ties of the Board. 
‘‘(f) RESPONSIBILITY.—The Board shall inquire into 
the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruc-
tion, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, 
and other matters relating to the Academy that the Board 
decides to consider. 
‘‘(g) DEPARTMENT
OF
TRANSPORTATION
SUP-
PORT.—The Secretary of Transportation shall— 
‘‘(1) provide support as deemed necessary by 
the Board for the performance of the Board’s func-
tions; 
‘‘(2) not later than 30 days after the date of 
the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Acad-
emy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act, select a 
Designated Federal Officer to support the perform-
ance of the Board’s functions; and 
‘‘(3) in cooperation with the Maritime Adminis-
trator and the Superintendent of the Academy, ad-
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vise the Board of any institutional issues, consistent 
with applicable laws concerning the disclosure of in-
formation. 
‘‘(h) STAFF.—Staff members may be designated to 
serve without reimbursement as staff for the Board by— 
‘‘(1) the Chairperson of the Board; 
‘‘(2) the chairman of the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; 
and 
‘‘(3) the chairman of the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(i) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—While serving away from 
home or regular place of business, a member of the Board 
or a staff member designated under subsection (h) shall 
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, as authorized under section 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
‘‘(j) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 60 days 
after each annual visit required under subsection 
(e)(1), the Board shall submit to the President a 
written report of its actions, views, and rec-
ommendations pertaining to the Academy. 
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‘‘(2) OTHER REPORTS.—If the members of the 
Board visit the Academy under subsection (e)(2), 
the Board may— 
‘‘(A) prepare a report on such visit; and 
‘‘(B) if approved by a majority of the 
members of the Board, submit such report to 
the President not later than 60 days after the 
date of the approval. 
‘‘(3) ADVISORS.—The Board may call in advis-
ers— 
‘‘(A) for consultation regarding the execu-
tion of the Board’s responsibility under sub-
section (f); or 
‘‘(B) to assist in the preparation of a re-
port described in paragraph (1) or (2). 
‘‘(4) SUBMISSION.—A report submitted to the 
President under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be con-
currently submitted to— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Transportation; 
‘‘(B) 
the 
Committee 
on 
Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and 
‘‘(C) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives.’’. 
Æ 
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