46 U.S.C. § 51312 — Board of Visitors

(a) In General. There is a Board of Visitors to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, giving independent advice and recommendations on Academy matters. (b) Membership. The Board includes: 2 Senators picked by the Senate Commerce Committee chairman (after checking with the ranking member); 3 House members picked by the House Armed Services chairman (after checking with the ranking member); 1 Senator picked by the Vice President, who must sit on the Senate Appropriations Committee; 2 House members picked by the Speaker (after checking with the Minority Leader), at least 1 of whom must sit on House Appropriations; 5 people picked by the President; and, as non-voting or ex-officio members, the Military Sealift Command's Commander, the Coast Guard's Deputy Commandant for Operations, the chairs of the Senate Commerce and House Armed Services Committees, the chair of the Academy's Advisory Board, and the House member for the Academy's district (unless already a voting member). Of the President's 5 picks: at least 2 must be Academy graduates, at least 1 must be a senior officer from a U.S. shipping company in the Maritime Security Program (rotating between companies every two years), at least 1 must represent a maritime labor group, and one or more may be a Senate-confirmed appointee, senior executive, or flag officer from the Coast Guard, NOAA, or a service that commissions Academy graduates. Members (other than the ex-officio ones) serve 2-year terms starting each new Congress, but keep serving past their term until a replacement is named — unless they were a lawmaker who left Congress. Replaced members must be notified within 60 days. If a member can no longer serve or resigns, the person who appointed them must be told right away, and must name a replacement within 60 days. Certain members can name a substitute to attend on their behalf if they can't make it themselves, as long as that substitute meets specific rank or position requirements; the substitute can fully participate but must report back to the member they're standing in for within 15 days. (c) Chairperson. Every two years the Board picks a Chairperson from among its House and Senate members, alternating between the two chambers, and no one can serve two terms in a row as chair. (d) Meetings. The Board meets as set out in its official charter, including at least one meeting at the Academy and two more (which can be virtual). A Designated Federal Officer organizes the first meeting to pick a chairperson and adopt the charter, coordinates scheduling as much as possible with members, and must give at least 30 days' notice of each meeting. (e) Visiting the Academy. The Board must visit the Academy once a year, on a date chosen with the Secretary of Transportation and the Superintendent, and may make other visits too. During visits, members get reasonable access to the grounds, facilities, midshipmen, faculty, and staff, and each member may bring staff along. Visits also need at least 30 days' notice, coordinated as much as possible with members. (f) Responsibility. The Board looks into morale, discipline, curriculum, teaching, equipment, finances, academic methods, and any other Academy matters it chooses to examine. (g) Department of Transportation Support. The Secretary of Transportation must give the Board the support it needs, pick a Designated Federal Officer to help it function, and — working with the Maritime Administrator and Superintendent — keep the Board informed of institutional issues, within the limits of disclosure law. (h) Staff. The top Senate Commerce and House Armed Services Committee leaders (majority and minority) may assign committee staff to help the Board, without extra pay (except travel costs), and that staff can attend meetings and visit the Academy. (i) Travel Expenses. Board members and assigned staff get travel expenses, including per diem, under section 5703 of title 5, when working away from home. (j) Reports. Within 60 days of the annual Academy visit, the Board must send the President a written report of its actions, views, and recommendations. If the Board makes other visits, it may write a report on those too, and — if a majority of members approve — send it to the President within 60 days of that approval. The Board may call in outside advisers to help with its responsibilities or its reports. Any report sent to the President must also go, at the same time, to the Secretary of Transportation, the Senate Commerce Committee, and the House Armed Services Committee.