text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board 
  of Visitors Enhancement Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY BOARD OF VISITORS.
  
      Section 51312 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read 
  as follows:
  ``Sec. 51312. Board of Visitors
      ``(a) In General.--A Board of Visitors to the United States 
  Merchant Marine Academy (referred to in this section as the `Board' and 
  the `Academy', respectively) shall be established to provide 
  independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the 
  United States Merchant Marine Academy.
      ``(b) Appointment and Membership.--
              ``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
          the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of 
          Visitors Enhancement Act, the Board shall be composed of--
                      ``(A) 2 Senators appointed by the chairman, in 
                  consultation with the ranking member, of the Committee 
                  on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
                      ``(B) 3 members of the House of Representatives 
                  appointed by the chairman, in consultation with the 
                  ranking member, of the Committee on Armed Services of 
                  the House of Representatives;
                      ``(C) 1 Senator appointed by the Vice President, 
                  who shall be a member of the Committee on 
                  Appropriations of the Senate;
                      ``(D) 2 members of the House of Representatives 
                  appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
                  Representatives, in consultation with the Minority 
                  Leader, at least 1 of whom shall be a member of the 
                  Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                  Representatives;
                      ``(E) the Commander of the Military Sealift 
                  Command;
                      ``(F) the Assistant Commandant for Prevention 
                  Policy of the United States Coast Guard;
                      ``(G) 4 individuals appointed by the President; and
                      ``(H) as ex officio members--
                              ``(i) the chairman of the Committee on 
                          Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
                          Senate;
                              ``(ii) the chairman of the Committee on 
                          Armed Services of the House of Representatives;
                              ``(iii) the chairman of the Advisory Board 
                          to the Academy established under section 51313; 
                          and
                              ``(iv) the member of the House of 
                          Representatives in whose congressional district 
                          the Academy is located, as a non-voting member, 
                          unless such member of the House of 
                          Representatives is appointed as a voting member 
                          of the Board under subparagraph (B) or (D).
              ``(2) Presidential appointees.--Of the individuals 
          appointed by the President under paragraph (1)(H)--
                      ``(A) at least 2 shall be graduates of the Academy;
                      ``(B) at least 1 shall be a senior corporate 
                  officer from a United States maritime shipping company 
                  that participates in the Maritime Security Program, or 
                  in any Maritime Administration program providing 
                  incentives for companies to register their vessels in 
                  the United States, and this appointment shall rotate 
                  biennially among such companies; and
                      ``(C) 1 or more may be a Senate-confirmed 
                  Presidential appointee, a member of the Senior 
                  Executive Service, or an officer of flag-rank who from 
                  the United States Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and 
                  Atmospheric Administration, or any of the military 
                  services that commission graduates of the Academy, 
                  exclusive of the Board members described in 
                  subparagraph (E), (F), or (G) of paragraph (1).
              ``(3) Term of service.--Each member of the Board shall 
          serve for a term of 2 years commencing at the beginning of each 
          Congress, except that any member whose term on the Board has 
          expired shall continue to serve until a successor is 
          designated.
              ``(4) Vacancies.--If a member of the Board is no longer 
          able to serve on the Board or resigns, the Designated Federal 
          Officer selected under subsection (g)(2) shall immediately 
          notify the official who appointed such member. Not later than 
          60 days after that notification, such official shall designate 
          a replacement to serve the remainder of such member's term.
              ``(5) Current members.--Each member of the Board serving as 
          a member of the Board on the date of the enactment of the U.S. 
          Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act shall 
          continue to serve on the Board for the remainder of such 
          member's term.
              ``(6) Designation and responsibility of substitute board 
          members.--
                      ``(A) Authority to designate.--A member of the 
                  Board described in subparagraph (E), (F), or (G) of 
                  paragraph (1) or subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph 
                  (2) may, if unable to attend or participate in an 
                  activity described in subsection (d), (e), or (f), 
                  designate another individual to serve as a substitute 
                  member of the Board, on a temporary basis, to attend or 
                  participate in such activity.
                      ``(B) Requirements.--A substitute member of the 
                  Board designated under subparagraph (A) shall be--
                              ``(i) an individual who has been appointed 
                          by the President and confirmed by the Senate;
                              ``(ii) a member of the Senior Executive 
                          Service; or
                              ``(iii) an officer of flag-rank who is 
                          employed by--
                                      ``(I) the United States Coast 
                                  Guard; or
                                      ``(II) the Military Sealift 
                                  Command.
                      ``(C) Participation.--A substitute member of the 
                  Board designated under subparagraph (A)--
                              ``(i) shall be permitted to fully 
                          participate in the proceedings and activities 
                          of the Board;
                              ``(ii) shall report back to the member on 
                          the Board's activities not later than 15 days 
                          following the substitute member's participation 
                          in such activities; and
                              ``(iii) shall be permitted to participate 
                          in the preparation of reports described in 
                          paragraph (j) related to any proceedings or 
                          activities of the Board in which such 
                          substitute member participates.
      ``(c) Chairperson.--
              ``(1) In general.--On a biennial basis, the Board shall 
          select from among its members, a member of the House of 
          Representatives or a Senator to serve as the Chairperson.
              ``(2) Rotation.--A member of the House of Representatives 
          and a member of the Senate shall alternately serve as the Chair 
          of the Board on a biennial basis.
              ``(3) Term.--An individual may not serve as Chairperson for 
          more than 1 consecutive term.
      ``(d) Meetings.--
              ``(1) In general.--The Board shall meet several times each 
          year as provided for in the Charter described in paragraph 
          (2)(B), including at least 1 meeting held at the Academy.
              ``(2) Selection and consideration.--Not later than 60 days 
          after the date of the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine 
          Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act, the Designated 
          Federal Officer selected under subsection (g)(2) shall organize 
          a meeting of the Board for the purposes of--
                      ``(A) selecting a Chairperson; and
                      ``(B) considering an official Charter for the 
                  Board, which shall provide for the meeting of the Board 
                  several times each year.
      ``(e) Visiting the Academy.--
              ``(1) Annual visit.--The Board shall visit the Academy 
          annually on a date selected by the Board, in consultation with 
          the Secretary of Transportation and the Superintendent of the 
          Academy.
              ``(2) Other visits.--In cooperation with the 
          Superintendent, the Board or its members may make other visits 
          to the Academy in connection with the duties of the Board.
              ``(3) Access.--While visiting the Academy under this 
          subsection, members of the Board shall have reasonable access 
          to the grounds, facilities, midshipmen, faculty, staff, and 
          other personnel of the Academy for the purpose of carrying out 
          the duties of the Board.
      ``(f) Responsibility.--The Board shall inquire into the state of 
  morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, 
  fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the 
  Academy that the Board decides to consider.
      ``(g) Department of Transportation Support.--The Secretary of 
  Transportation shall--
              ``(1) provide support as deemed necessary by the Board for 
          the performance of the Board's functions;
              ``(2) not later than 30 days after the date of the 
          enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors 
          Enhancement Act, select a Designated Federal Officer to support 
          the performance of the Board's functions; and
              ``(3) in cooperation with the Maritime Administrator and 
          the Superintendent of the Academy, advise the Board of any 
          institutional issues, consistent with applicable laws 
          concerning the disclosure of information.
      ``(h) Staff.--Staff members may be designated to serve without 
  reimbursement as staff for the Board by--
              ``(1) the Chairperson of the Board;
              ``(2) the chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
          and Transportation of the Senate; and
              ``(3) the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of 
          the House of Representatives.
      ``(i) Travel Expenses.--While serving away from home or regular 
  place of business, a member of the Board or a staff member designated 
  under subsection (h) shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 
  diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized under section 5703 of title 
  5, United States Code.
      ``(j) Reports.--
              ``(1) Annual report.--Not later than 60 days after each 
          annual visit required under subsection (e)(1), the Board shall 
          submit to the President a written report of its actions, views, 
          and recommendations pertaining to the Academy.
              ``(2) Other reports.--If the members of the Board visit the 
          Academy under subsection (e)(2), the Board may--
                      ``(A) prepare a report on such visit; and
                      ``(B) if approved by a majority of the members of 
                  the Board, submit such report to the President not 
                  later than 60 days after the date of the approval.
              ``(3) Advisors.--The Board may call in advisers--
                      ``(A) for consultation regarding the execution of 
                  the Board's responsibility under subsection (f); or
                      ``(B) to assist in the preparation of a report 
                  described in paragraph (1) or (2).
              ``(4) Submission.--A report submitted to the President 
          under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be concurrently submitted to--
                      ``(A) the Secretary of Transportation;
                      ``(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                  Transportation of the Senate; and
                      ``(C) the Committee on Armed Services of the House 
                  of Representatives.''.
  
              Passed the Senate June 26, 2014.
  
              Attest:
  
                                                  NANCY ERICKSON,
  
                                                               Secretary.
target: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act - Amends federal shipping law to: (1) expand the membership of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, and (2) specify requirements for the presidential appointees. Authorizes certain Board members to designate another individual to serve as a substitute member of the Board, on a temporary basis, to attend or participate in any activity the Board member is unable to attend or participate in. Prescribes requirements for designated substitute Board members. Requires the Board to select biennially from among its members a member of the House of Representatives or a Senator to serve as Board Chairperson. Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to select a Designated Federal Officer to support the performance of the Board's functions. Directs the Board to report annually to the President on its actions, views, and recommendations with respect to the Academy.
feat_title: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement Act