S.Amdt. 2409

1. Adds SEC. 3502. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY BOARD OF VISITORS at the end of title XXXV

   Adds a section

   In S. 1197 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   "(3) Training vessels.--Amounts may not be appropriated for the purchase or construction of training vessels for State maritime academies unless the Secretary has approved a plan for sharing training vessels between State maritime academies.".

   Inserted: SEC. 3502. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY BOARD OF VISITORS.

   Inserted: Section 51312 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

   Inserted: "Sec. 51312. Board of Visitors

   Inserted: "(a) In General.--A Board of Visitors to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (hereinafter referred to as the 'Board') shall be established to provide independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

   Inserted: "(b) Appointment and Membership.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, the Board shall be composed of--

   Inserted: "(A) 2 Senators appointed by the chairman, in consultation with the ranking member, of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

   Inserted: "(B) 3 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the chairman, in consultation with the ranking member, of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;

   Inserted: "(C) 1 Senator appointed by the Vice President, who shall be a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

   Inserted: "(D) 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the Minority Leader, at least 1 of whom shall be a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;

   Inserted: "(E) the Commander of the United States Transportation Command;

   Inserted: "(F) the Commander of the Military Sealift Command;

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   Inserted: "(G) the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy of the United States Coast Guard;

   Inserted: "(H) 4 individuals appointed by the President; and

   Inserted: "(I) as ex officio members--

   Inserted: "(i) the chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

   Inserted: "(ii) the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and

   Inserted: "(iii) the chairman of the Advisory Board to the United States Merchant Marine Academy established in section 51313.

   Inserted: "(2) Presidential appointees.--Of the individuals appointed by the President under paragraph (1)(H)--

   Inserted: "(A) at least 2 shall be graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy;

   Inserted: "(B) at least 1 shall be a senior corporate officer from a United States maritime shipping company that participates in the Maritime Security Program, and this appointment shall rotate biennially among the companies enrolled in the Maritime Security Program; and

   Inserted: "(C) at least 1 shall be a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission.

   Inserted: "(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.

   Inserted: "(4) Vacancies.--If a member of the Board dies or resigns, the Designated Federal Officer selected under subsection (g)(1)(B) shall immediately notify the official who appointed such member. Not later than 60 days after that notification, such official shall designate a replacement to serve the remainder of such member's term.

   Inserted: "(5) Current members.--Each member of the Board serving on the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 shall continue to serve for the remainder of such member's term.

   Inserted: "(6) Designation and responsibility of substitute board members.--A member of the Board described in subparagraph (E), (F), or (G) of subsection (b)(1) or subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (b)(2) may, if unable to attend or participate in an activity described in subsection (d), (e), or (f), designate another individual to serve as a substitute member of the Board, on a temporary basis, to attend or participate in such activity. Such designee shall be permitted to fully participate in the proceedings and activities of the Board and shall report back to the member on the Board's activities not later than 15 days following the designee's participation in such activities.

   Inserted: "(c) Chairperson.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--On a biennial basis, the Board shall select from among its members, a member of the House of Representatives or a Senator to serve as the Chairperson.

   Inserted: "(2) Rotation.--The Chairperson of the Board shall rotate on a biennial basis between a member of the Board who is a member of the House of Representatives and a member of the Senate.

   Inserted: "(3) Term.--An individual may not serve as Chairperson for more than 1 consecutive term.

   Inserted: "(d) Meetings.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--The Board shall meet several times each year as provided for in the Charter under paragraph (2)(B), including at least 1 meeting held at the Academy.

   Inserted: "(2) Selection and consideration.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, the Designated Federal Officer selected under subsection (g)(1)(B) shall organize a meeting of the Board for the purposes of--

   Inserted: "(A) selecting a Chairperson; and

   Inserted: "(B) consideration of an official Charter for the Board, which shall provide for the meeting of the Board at least 4 times each year.

   Inserted: "(e) Visiting the Academy.--

   Inserted: "(1) Annual visit.--The Board shall visit the United States Merchant Marine Academy annually on a date selected by the Board, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Superintendent of the Academy.

   Inserted: "(2) Other visits.--In cooperation with the Superintendent, the Board or its members may make other visits to the Academy in connection with the duties of the Board.

   Inserted: "(3) Access.--During a visit to the Academy under this subsection, the members of the Board shall have access to the grounds, facilities, midshipmen, faculty, staff, and other personnel of the Academy for the purposes of carrying out the duties of the Board.

   Inserted: "(f) Responsibility.--The Board shall inquire into the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the United States Merchant Marine Academy that the Board decides to consider.

   Inserted: "(g) Department of Transportation Support.--The Secretary of Transportation shall--

   Inserted: "(1) provide support as deemed necessary for the performance of the Board's functions;

   Inserted: "(2) not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, select a Designated Federal Officer to support the performance of the Board's functions; and

   Inserted: "(3) in cooperation with the Maritime Administrator and the Superintendent of the Academy, provide the Board candid and complete disclosure, consistent with applicable laws concerning the disclosure of information, with respect to institutional problems.

   Inserted: "(h) Staff.--Staff members may be designated to serve without reimbursement as staff for the Board by--

   Inserted: "(1) the Chairperson of the Board;

   Inserted: "(2) the chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and

   Inserted: "(3) the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.

   Inserted: "(i) Travel Expenses.--When 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 by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

   Inserted: "(j) Reports.--

   Inserted: "(1) Annual report.--Not later than 60 days after each annual visit required by subsection (e)(1), the Board shall submit to the President a written report of its actions, views, and recommendations pertaining to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

   Inserted: "(2) Other reports.--If the members of the Board make a visit to the Academy under subsection (e)(2), the Board shall--

   Inserted: "(A) prepare a report on such visit; and

   Inserted: "(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.

   Inserted: "(3) Advisors.--Upon approval by the Secretary of Transportation, the Board may call in advisers for consultation regarding the execution of the Board's responsibility under subsection (f) or to assist in preparation of a report under paragraph (1) or (2).

   Inserted: "(4) Submission.--A report submitted to the President under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be concurrently submitted to the following:

   Inserted: "(A) The Secretary of Transportation.

   Inserted: "(B) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

   Inserted: "(C) The Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.".

   Original wording

   At the end of title XXXV, add the following:

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As printed