United States Merchant Marine Academy

(a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the United States Merchant Marine Academy, one of our Nation’s 5 Federal service academies, is vital to our national security, and modernizing the Academy's aging infrastructure and investing in faculty and students must be congressional priorities; (2) sufficient funding must be provided to enable the maximum student enrollment that the campus infrastructure of the United States Merchant Marine Academy can support; and (3) considering the Academy’s role as a co-equal military service academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy should be included in the rotation of presidential attendance at graduations. (b) Campus modernization plan Chapter 513 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 51329. Campus modernization plan (a) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall implement the Department of Transportation’s 2025 Campus Modernization Plan for the phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of facilities and infrastructure at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. (b) Requirements For the duration of the Campus Modernization Plan implemented under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that the Academy remains fully operational. (c) Reporting The Secretary of Transportation shall provide a briefing once every 6 months to the appropriate committees of Congress on the status of the implementation of the 2025 Campus Modernization Plan, as provided under subsection (a).. (c) Report on enrollment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Maritime Administrator shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress identifying the additional resources needed to increase enrollment at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.