Congress funds $1B overhaul of aging Merchant Marine Academy

What it does

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a 10-year, $1.02 billion modernization plan for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's aging campus infrastructure—including new training facilities, dormitories, utilities upgrades, and athletic facilities. The bill authorizes $54 million for design and planning in 2026, then $107.3 million annually through 2035 for construction, funded from the Maritime Security Trust Fund.

Why we flagged it

The bill is a straightforward capital authorization for modernization of a federal service academy. It allocates $1.02 billion over 10 years for facility upgrades, new construction, and infrastructure replacement at the Merchant Marine Academy—a routine federal infrastructure investment with clear public purpose.

What the text implies

• The bill references the 'Maritime Security Infrastructure Council' Full Speed Ahead Plan (Congressional Record, Feb 28, 2024) as a planning guide, but that external document is not provided in the bill text—implementation may depend on a non-statutory plan not subject to congressional amendment.
• Funding is drawn from the Maritime Security Trust Fund (IRC §9512), which may constrain other maritime security spending or create pressure to replenish the fund through other mechanisms.
• The requirement to 'remain fully operational' during modernization may necessitate phased construction and temporary facilities, potentially extending timelines and costs beyond the stated 10-year window.
• Design-build contracting authority (referenced in findings) may reduce transparency in procurement and design decisions compared to traditional design-bid-build processes.

Who it affects

The bill funds critical infrastructure modernization at a federal service academy that trains officers essential to national defense and commercial maritime operations. Citizens benefit from improved training facilities that produce better-prepared mariners, enhanced campus safety and accessibility, and a 10-year capital investment in federal infrastructure. No apparent cost to the general public beyond normal tax allocation.

Who stands to gain

• construction and engineering firms
• federal construction agents
• design-build contractors

Named in the bill

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, Maritime Security Infrastructure Council, National Academy of Public Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Maritime Security Trust Fund, James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023

Where it stands

17 cosponsors: 10 Democrats, 7 Republicans.

• Mar 27, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Mar 27, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Armed Services · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

2 lobbying clients named this bill on 5 disclosure filings across 3 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $1,605,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 1 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 41% of bills with at least one filing.

Andrew Garbarino, the sponsor, reported $1,954,500 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers — $1,425,000 on 2 filings
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation — $180,000 on 3 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 21, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.