USMMA Athletics Act of 2026

Key Points

• Congress would let the Transportation Department set up a New York-based nonprofit to support sports at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
• The nonprofit could take in money from ticket sales, sponsors, licensing deals, athletic groups, and other sources, with rules to avoid conflicts of interest.
• The Transportation Department could use contracts (including some sole-source deals) and cooperative agreements so the nonprofit can buy equipment, services, travel, and other support for teams.
• The department could rent or lease some on-campus property to the nonprofit for up to 5 years, and put the proceeds back into academy athletics.
• Money received for academy athletics could be kept and used until it’s spent, rather than expiring at the end of a budget year.

Impact Analysis

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