Sponsors (2)
Official title: Support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Introduced November 20, 2025 by Roger F. Wicker · Last progress November 20, 2025
The bill lets the USMMA use a nonprofit partner to raise and retain private funds to strengthen athletics (reducing reliance on appropriations) but does so with procurement exceptions, transfers of public assets, and non‑federal staffing that raise transparency and accountability concerns.
Students and the United States Merchant Marine Academy gain increased athletic funding and program support because a nonprofit partner can raise and spend private funds for equipment, travel, facilities, and related athletic needs.
USMMA can access new private revenue streams (sponsorships, licensing, ticketing, NCAA-style revenue) that bolster athletics without relying on annual federal appropriations, with proceeds retained until expended.
DOT oversight provisions let federal employees serve without pay on the nonprofit board, preserving a level of federal oversight and expertise while enabling the nonprofit to operate.
Taxpayers and the Academy face reduced competition and transparency because the bill allows sole‑source contracts and exceptions to some procurement and funds-transfer rules for expenditures supporting athletics.
Taxpayers and students may see perceived conflicts of interest or public assets used for a special program because the bill permits leasing academy real property to the corporation and transferring DOT nonappropriated fund assets.
Employees or personnel of the nonprofit are not federal employees, which can limit accountability, oversight, and access to federal employee benefits for staff providing services to students.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal nonprofit and gives the Secretary authority to contract, lease, and provide support to bolster USMMA athletic programs.
Creates a federally owned, New York nonprofit corporation under the Secretary of Transportation to support and manage athletic programs at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). The corporation must operate as a public charity, may receive leases, contracts, and support services from the Secretary, and its board members serve without pay (travel expenses allowed); DOT employees may serve in official capacities but cannot be a majority of directors. Gives the Secretary specific contracting and leasing authorities (including limited sole‑source authority and cooperative agreement flexibility) to provide property, services, and other support for USMMA athletics and allows lease proceeds to be retained and used as specified.