Overview
Title
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.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 2429 is a plan to fix up the United States Merchant Marine Academy, making its buildings nicer and safer, with a big budget to do it over ten years.
Summary AI
H.R. 2429 directs the Secretary of Transportation to create and carry out a plan to modernize the United States Merchant Marine Academy's campus. The bill highlights the Academy’s important role in training merchant mariners vital for national security and insists on upgrading its outdated facilities to meet modern educational needs. It calls for improvements in academic, training, and residential infrastructure, with a total budget of approximately $1 billion spread over ten years. The plan includes building new structures, upgrading current systems, and ensuring compliance with safety and accessibility standards, all while keeping the Academy operational during the updates.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill titled "H. R. 2429" aims to modernize the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) by directing the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a comprehensive Campus Modernization Plan. The plan is intended to update the Academy's infrastructure and facilities to better serve the educational and training needs of future Merchant Marine officers. Over a ten-year period, from 2026 to 2035, more than $1 billion is authorized for this modernization effort. This includes constructing new facilities, upgrading existing ones, and ensuring the Academy remains operational during the process.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several concerns are associated with this bill. One of the primary issues is the authorization of over $1 billion, which raises potential concerns about wasteful spending due to a lack of detailed cost estimates and justifications for individual components of the plan.
Another significant issue is the requirement to maintain full operational status of the Academy throughout the modernization process. This could result in delays and increased costs.
Furthermore, the bill relies on findings and recommendations from outdated documents, which might not fully reflect current conditions or technological advancements.
The bill also lacks a clear accountability framework or performance metrics, which could hinder effective oversight of the modernization process.
The involvement of external organizations, like the Maritime Security Infrastructure Council, and the use of design-build contracts without detailed management strategies could lead to biases and cost inefficiencies.
Impact on the Public
The bill's implementation is likely to impact both the general public and specific stakeholders. For the broader public, the modernization of the USMMA might ensure a stronger and more reliable Merchant Marine force, critical for national defense and commerce. However, there are concerns about potential wasteful spending and inefficiencies which could lead to misuse of taxpayer money.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For future and current students of the USMMA, the modernization could mean improved educational facilities and better training environments, leading to enhanced academic and career opportunities. The new infrastructure could attract a more diverse student body and provide facilities that support both academic demands and physical readiness.
Faculty and staff might benefit from updated, safer, and more efficient work environments. However, they could also experience disruptions during the construction period, despite efforts to keep the Academy operational.
For contractors and businesses involved in the construction and planning processes, this bill presents potential opportunities but also raises concerns over contract management and accountability that need careful scrutiny to avoid inefficiencies.
Overall, while the intent of the bill to modernize and improve the USMMA is positive, the outlined concerns need addressing to assure responsible stewardship of public funds and successful project execution.
Financial Assessment
The bill H.R. 2429 outlines a comprehensive plan to modernize the United States Merchant Marine Academy's campus, with substantial financial allocations over a ten-year period. The proposed plan authorizes a total of $1,020,000,000 to be allocated from the Maritime Security Trust Fund specifically for this purpose.
Financial Summary
The financial allocations include an initial $54,000,000 earmarked for fiscal year 2026 for design and planning purposes. This portion of the budget is intended to develop a design-build plan for the project's phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction. Additionally, for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, the bill proposes an annual allocation of $107,333,333 to cover construction and contingency purchases to ensure the successful execution of the Campus Modernization Plan.
Examination of Identified Issues
Several issues have been raised concerning the financial aspects of this bill:
Potential Wasteful Spending: There are concerns about the authorization of a large budget without detailed cost estimates or justification for each component of the plan. The allocation of $1,020,000,000 over ten years could lead to financial inefficiencies if rigorous cost controls and justifications are not established.
Operational Maintenance During Modernization: The requirement to keep the Academy fully operational during the construction phase could potentially increase costs and delay the project's timeline, impacting the effectiveness of the budgetary allocations.
Design-Build Contracts: While the bill suggests utilizing design-build contracts to increase delivery times and reduce costs, the lack of detailed management strategies for these contracts poses a risk of cost overruns. This could affect the overall budget management and accountability.
Use of Outdated Information: A reliance on a 2021 report to inform updates raises concerns about whether the financial planning reflects current needs and technological advancements, potentially affecting the allocation efficiency.
Transparency and Accountability: The absence of an accountability framework or performance metrics could hinder oversight of the financial allocations. Furthermore, the lack of access to foundational documents like the "United States Merchant Marine Academy Full Speed Ahead Plan" limits transparency and stakeholder ability to assess the appropriateness and necessity of the proposed budget.
Design and Planning Budget: The allocation of $54,000,000 for design and planning itself might be viewed as excessive without a clear breakdown or justification, raising questions about the efficiency and efficacy of this expenditure.
Influence of External Organizations: The potential involvement of external entities like the Maritime Security Infrastructure Council could contribute to biases in budget allocations, impacting transparency in financial decisions.
In conclusion, while the bill proposes significant investments to revitalize the United States Merchant Marine Academy, it faces multiple financial scrutiny points. The concerns primarily revolve around the need for precise cost justifications, a robust framework to ensure financial accountability, and transparent stakeholder engagement throughout the modernization process.
Issues
The authorization of $1,020,000,000 for the Campus Modernization Plan raises concerns about potential wasteful spending. The lack of detailed cost estimates and justifications for each component of the plan, as cited in Sections 1 and 51329, could lead to financial inefficiencies.
The bill mandates maintaining full operational status of the Academy during the modernization process, as referenced in Section 51329(d). This requirement could potentially delay construction activities and increase costs, impacting both budget and timelines.
The use of design-build contracts without specifying how these will be managed to control costs and ensure accountability could lead to cost overruns or inefficiencies. This issue is highlighted in Sections 1(b)(4) and 51329(f)(1).
The reliance on an outdated report from 2021 by the National Academy of Public Administration to inform updates might not reflect current needs or technological advancements. This is mentioned in Section 51329(b)(7).
There is an absence of a clear accountability framework or performance metrics to evaluate the success of the Campus Modernization Plan, as indicated in both Sections 1 and 51329. This could result in a lack of accountability and oversight.
The lack of direct access to foundational documents like the 'United States Merchant Marine Academy Full Speed Ahead Plan' and the report 'Organizational Assessment of the United States Merchant Marine Academy: A Path Forward,' as mentioned in Sections 1 and 51329, raises transparency issues. This makes it challenging for stakeholders to assess the appropriateness of proposed actions.
The allocation of $54,000,000 specifically for design and planning purposes may be seen as excessive unless a clear breakdown is provided, as mentioned in Section 51329(f)(1).
The potential involvement of the 'Maritime Security Infrastructure Council' and whether their influence could lead to biases or preferences is a concern, as mentioned in Sections 1(b)(2) and 51329(a).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Authorization of appropriations for United States Merchant Marine Academy infrastructure and facilities modernization Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The United States Congress is authorizing funds and creating a plan to modernize the campus of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. This plan involves upgrading or building new facilities, ensuring safety and accessibility, and maintaining the operations of the Academy, with a total of $1.02 billion allocated from 2026 to 2035.
Money References
- “(f) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation, out of the Maritime Security Trust Fund established under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, for the phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of facilities and infrastructure at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, in accordance with this section, including the Campus Modernization Plan authorized in subsection (a), $1,020,000,000 of which— “(1) $54,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 for design and planning purposes, which shall be used for the development of a design-build plan for the phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of facilities and infrastructure at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in accordance with the Campus Modernization Plan; and “(2) for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, $107,333,333 is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year for construction and contingency purchases necessary to execute the Campus Modernization Plan.”.
51329. 10-year campus modernization plan Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines a plan to modernize the United States Merchant Marine Academy over ten years, aiming to improve its facilities and infrastructure to support education and diversity, and ensure safety and accessibility. It authorizes over $1 billion in funding from 2026 to 2035 and involves constructing and updating facilities like classrooms and labs, upgrading systems like electricity and plumbing, and partnering with a Federal construction agent to execute the plan while keeping the academy operational.
Money References
- (f) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation, out of the Maritime Security Trust Fund established under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, for the phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of facilities and infrastructure at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, in accordance with this section, including the Campus Modernization Plan authorized in subsection (a), $1,020,000,000 of which— (1) $54,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 for design and planning purposes, which shall be used for the development of a design-build plan for the phased rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of facilities and infrastructure at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in accordance with the Campus Modernization Plan; and (2) for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, $107,333,333 is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year for construction and contingency purchases necessary to execute the Campus Modernization Plan.