Andrew Garbarino (R-NY)
USMMA Athletics Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The USMMA Athletics Act of 2026 proposes the establishment of a corporation to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to create this corporation, which would be owned by the United States and operate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This corporation would manage various functions, including entering into contracts, acquiring property, and managing trademarks. The Act also allows for the transfer of certain assets from the Department of Transportation to this new entity. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a structured way to fund and support academy athletics through diverse revenue streams and organizational management.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +5
Would students be better off under this?
The bill directly funds and supports the athletic programs for students at the USMMA.
- Scored +3
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Enhanced athletic programs can improve the student experience for young adults at the academy.
- Scored +2
Is this likely to create jobs?
The establishment of a new corporation to manage athletics may lead to auxiliary employment opportunities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Athletic Programs: The creation of a dedicated corporation is intended specifically to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Revenue Generation for Recruitment: Licensing fees from trademarks and service marks can be used for recruiting activities for the United States Merchant Marine Academy (Section 2(k)(3)(ii)).
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Organizational Efficiency: The Secretary is granted the authority to enter into sole-source contracts and cooperative agreements to acquire property, services, or travel for the direct benefit of the Academy (Section 2(d)(2) and (3)).
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Resource Management: The Secretary may lease real property located at the Academy to the corporation to support athletic programs (Section 2(e)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Board Compensation Restrictions: While board members serve without compensation, they are limited to receiving reimbursement only for reasonable travel and related expenses (Section 2(c)(1)).
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Employment Status Clarification: Employees or personnel of the corporation are explicitly defined as not being employees of the United States (Section 2(h)(2)).
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Liability Limitations: The provision of support services by the Secretary to the corporation may not result in any liability for the United States (Section 2(f)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — The bill directly funds and supports the athletic programs for students at the USMMA. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Enhanced athletic programs can improve the student experience for young adults at the academy.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The establishment of a new corporation to manage athletics may lead to auxiliary employment opportunities. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The creation of a revenue-generating entity for academy athletics supports institutional economic activity.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill empowers the Secretary of Transportation to establish and control a new government-owned corporation. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The act requires the corporation to operate under specific legal frameworks and oversight by the Secretary.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one? — The act provides structured support for the specific educational and athletic environment of the USMMA.
- 3/17/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/7/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Addison McDowellRepublican · North Carolina
Austin ScottRepublican · Georgia
Thomas SuozziDemocrat · New York