Sponsors (4)
The bill creates a nonprofit vehicle to expand and privately fund Merchant Marine Academy athletics and speed operations, but it does so by reducing federal procurement and financial controls and increasing risks of conflicts of interest and reduced accountability.
Students at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy gain expanded athletic programs, recruiting support, and more timely operations because a dedicated nonprofit corporation can raise and spend funds and use leasing/cooperative agreements to operate teams and facilities.
The corporation can attract private revenue (e.g., ticketing, sponsorships, NCAA-related income) to pay for athletics, reducing reliance on annual federal appropriations and easing budget pressure on the Academy.
Allowing sole‑source contracts and exemptions from federal procurement statutes for the corporation reduces competition and oversight, increasing the risk of higher costs, favoritism, or misuse of funds.
Transferring Department of Transportation nonappropriated fund assets to the corporation removes those assets from direct federal control and could complicate accountability, auditing, and transparency over how funds are used.
Permitting private funds, sponsorships, and licensing for Academy athletics creates potential conflicts of interest or perceptions that DOT (or Academy) objectivity and mission could be influenced by private sponsors if safeguards are insufficient.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish a U.S.-owned New York nonprofit (tax-exempt 501(c)(3)) to support athletic programs at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The nonprofit may receive and spend donations and fees, lease Academy property for up to five years, receive certain DOT assets (excluding real property), enter contracts and cooperative agreements (including some sole-source authority), and license Academy trademarks with proceeds retained and spent to support athletics and related costs.
Introduced January 7, 2026 by Andrew R. Garbarino · Last progress January 7, 2026