Congress funds $1B overhaul of aging Merchant Marine Academy
H.R. 2429 — To direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a comprehensive Campus Modernization Plan for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and for other purposes. · Filed by Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) · 17 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 27, 2025 · Referred to committee
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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 full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
construction and engineering firms; federal construction agents; design-build contractors