Sponsors (2)
The bill enables private revenue and retained fees to bolster and sustain U.S. Merchant Marine Academy athletics and adds transparency measures, but it increases fiscal exposure for taxpayers and raises procurement, property‑use, and conflict‑of‑interest risks that will need tight safeguards.
Students and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy will get increased and sustained funding for athletic programs through donations, licensing revenues, and retained fees, improving program support and multi-year planning.
DOT oversight of the supporting corporation and publication of board participation in the Federal Register increases transparency about which federal employees serve on the board.
Taxpayers could incur indirect fiscal costs if DOT provides support services or transfers assets to the corporation without appropriations, creating potential budgetary exposure.
Allowing sole‑source contracts and exemptions from some procurement rules raises the risk of favoritism, reduced competition, and higher costs for contracts that support Academy athletics.
Leasing Academy real property to a corporation for up to five years could limit campus access and risks misuse or inappropriate private use of public assets if not tightly managed.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a federally owned, New York‑incorporated 501(c)(3) to support USMMA athletics and sets governance, contracting, and leasing rules.
Official title: Support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Introduced November 20, 2025 by Roger F. Wicker · Last progress August 10, 2026
Creates a federally owned nonprofit corporation, incorporated in New York and controlled by the Secretary of Transportation, to support athletic programs at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). The corporation must qualify as a 501(c)(3), operate for charitable/educational purposes, and follow specific governance, contracting, leasing, and compensation rules. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint DOT employees to the board in oversight roles (limited to one-third of directors), enter sole‑source contracts and cooperative agreements to support USMMA athletics, and lease Academy real property to the corporation under specified limits; proceeds from leases are retained for specified Academy uses. Board members serve without compensation except travel reimbursement; the corporation is owned by the United States and its stock voted by the Secretary of Transportation.