To allow for improvements to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

SA 1538. Mr. WICKER (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, and Mr. Hatch)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463
proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities of the
Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

SEC. 1085. MELVILLE HALL OF THE 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 subsection 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 paragraph (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 Foundation 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.
(d) Contract Terms.--The contract described in subsection
(c) shall be for such period and on such terms as the
Maritime Administrator considers appropriate, including 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 accepted Melville Hall
after it was tendered to the Foundation by the Maritime
Administrator; and
(B) to deposit all proceeds from the operation 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
successor entity, to be used solely for the morale and
welfare of the cadets of the United States Merchant Marine
Academy; and
(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 contract.
(2) Foundation.--In this section, the term ``Foundation''
means the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni
Association and Foundation, Inc.
(f) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed under section 3105 of title 41, United States Code,
as requiring the Maritime Administrator to award a contract
for the operation of Melville Hall to the Foundation.
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