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HR6961119th CongressWALLET

USMMA Athletics Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Garbarino

Introduced

Summary

Creates a U.S. government-owned nonprofit corporation to support athletic programs at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). It lets the Secretary of Transportation place the corporation in New York and gives the corporation tools to raise and use money, manage trademarks, and partner with DOT to back USMMA athletics.

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  • Students and teams at USMMA gain a new funding and support channel. The corporation can receive funds, keep licensing and sponsorship revenue for recruiting and related costs, and use those fees until spent.
  • The Department of Transportation can transfer nonappropriated fund assets and liabilities (excluding real property), lease academy property for up to 5 years, provide support services, and enter contracts or cooperative agreements to benefit USMMA athletics. Board members are unpaid except for reasonable travel expenses and DOT staff may serve but may not exceed one-third of the board.
  • Partners, sponsors, and licensees get a clear path to work with USMMA. The corporation can license trademarks and service marks with Secretary approval and legal protections to avoid reflecting poorly on DOT.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Allow USMMA trademark licensing fees

If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary license trademarks and service marks for the United States Merchant Marine Academy and keep fees from those licenses. Retained fees could first pay trademark registration and licensing program costs. If fees in a fiscal year exceed those costs, the extra could be used for USMMA recruiting. Fees kept would remain available until spent, and the terms "trademark" and "service mark" would be defined by federal law.

New nonprofit to support USMMA sports

If enacted, the Secretary of Transportation could create a U.S.-owned nonprofit in New York to support USMMA athletics. The nonprofit would be a 501(c)(3) and the United States would own all stock held by the Secretary. The Secretary could accept gifts, supplies, and services for athletics and could lease unused Academy property for up to 5 years. Board members would not be paid except for reasonable travel, and DOT employees could serve only in official oversight roles and could not make up more than one-third of the board. The Secretary could transfer certain nonappropriated fund assets (but not interests in real property) and sign contracts or cooperative agreements, including sole-source contracts subject to procurement law.

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Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Garbarino

NY • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/3/2026

  • Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 3/9/2026

  • McDowell

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/17/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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