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handle is hein.crs/govedwg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Informin th leiltv dbtsIce14 0 July 1, 2021 The United States Merchant Marine Academy Background The U.S. Merchant Marine consists of U.S.-flag vessels and their crews of U.S. citizens or nationals, commonly called merchant mariners. While there has been congressional interest in maritime policy since the founding of the United States, legislation related to training and qualifying the maritime workforce was uncommon until the latter half of the 19th century. Economic distress in the shipping industry caused by the American Civil War prompted congressional efforts to reverse this decline, including legislation intended to increase the number and quality of merchant mariners. Two federal entities currently share responsibility for the Merchant Marine. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) manages federal shipping and ocean transportation programs. It also operates the only federal maritime academy for merchant marine officers-the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, New York. The U.S. Coast Guard administers commercial vessel and merchant mariner oversight programs. Forming a National Maritime Academy The concept for a federal institution that would train merchant marine officers arose from concerns over crew shortages during World War I. Navy personnel were drawn from combat vessels, particularly mobilized members of State Naval Militias qualified as merchant mariners, to fully crew Merchant Marine ships. There also was growing congressional concern about the oversight and professionalism of the merchant mariner workforce as maritime accidents increased in number and severity during the post-war period. The Merchant Marine Act of 1936 established the U.S. Maritime Commission with broad responsibilities that included training programs. The Commission established the Merchant Marine Cadet Corps to train individuals without maritime experience to be merchant marine officers. At its outset, the only training option for the new program was to train-at-sea on merchant ships because the Commission had no existing capacity for a shore-based school-ship program. By 1942 however, there was a regional shore-based site with training facilities and student housing in New York, California, and Mississippi. The Commission disestablished the western and southern sites in 1947. This left the eastern site at Kings Point as a long- term campus for USMMA; it acquired permanence as a service academy in 1956. US. Merchant Marine Academy USMMA is a four-year educational institution providing Bachelor of Science degrees to successful candidates who must become qualified for dual-service as military sealift officers and licensed merchant mariners. In 2019, the Department of Labor reported 47,600 licensed mariners in the maritime work force, 38,900 deck officers, and 8,700 ship engineers. The superintendent of USMMA is its chief executive officer and typically is appointed as a rear or vice admiral in the U.S. Maritime Service. There is a Board of Visitors for USMMA with membership that includes five Presidential appointees, three members of the Senate, and five members of the House of Representatives. The Secretary of Transportation appoints an advisory board that is required to consult the superintendent and MARAD Administrator on academic and management matters. Enacted budget data for USMMA is in Table 1. Table I. Fiscal Year Enacted Budget ($000) USMMA 2017 2018 2019 2020 Operations 69,000 68,531 70,593 80,216 Capital Assets 14,218 14,121 18,000 5,225 Total 83,218 82,652 88,593 85,441 Source: MARAD at https://www.transportation.gov/budget. Approximately 265 U.S. citizens or nationals are admitted to USMMA each year. Admission is competitive and applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements. Around 225 appointments are made through nominations by Members of Congress and other nominating officials. The MARAD Administrator is authorized to make 40 additional appointments without nomination or competition. Additionally, up to 42 international students designated by their home country may be admitted to USMMA. USMMA first admitted women in 1974. Students in fall 2019 were 79% male and 21% female (see Table 2 for race and ethnicity data). The average size of the USMMA student population from 2017 to 2020 was 960; the average for each year's graduating class during the same period was 193. Graduation requirements include: * completing the academic program; * accumulating 360 days of sea service; and * obtaining a deck officer or ship engineer license. USMMA provides its students room, board, and tuition valued at approximately $300,000 over 4 years. USMMA does not pay them a salary. Students are responsible for some attendance expenses (around $5,000 per student for the 2020-2021 academic year). Students at other service academies also attend without charge but they receive a salary ($1,185 per month in 2021) that exceeds their necessary expenses. The cost per student at USMMA for fiscal years 2017 to 2020 is in Table 3. ittps://Crsreports.congress.gt

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