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S. 3266 would authorize the Secretary of Transportation to establish a nonprofit corporation, fully owned by the United States, to support athletic programs at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). The corporation would operate under New York state law as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity focused on charitable, educational, and civic purposes related to the academy's athletics.
The bill would grant the Secretary authority to enter contracts and cooperative agreements to secure funding for athletics, lease unused academy property for up to five years with proceeds supporting athletic programs, and transfer existing Department of Transportation athletic fund assets to the corporation. The corporation would be governed by a board of directors serving without compensation (except expense reimbursement), with Department of Transportation employees limited to one-third of board seats. The Secretary could also accept donations, licensing fees, and sponsorships from various sources to generate additional revenue for the athletic programs.
If enacted, this legislation would allow USMMA to operate on more equal footing with other federal service academies by enabling the academy to receive NCAA funding, charge for tickets, and enter into standard athletic and licensing agreements that are currently restricted due to its federal status. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote.
AI-generated summary
Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Nov 20, 2025
Feb 3, 2026 · 14:45
On February 3, 2026, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an executive session (business meeting) to consider eight bills and five nominations. The bills addressed diverse policy areas: S. 71 would require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in passenger rail bathrooms; S. 1898, the ORBITS Act, would establish a demonstration program for orbital debris remediation and uniform debris standards; S. 2585 would modernize the Broadband Funding Map to improve federal broadband deployment efficiency; S. 3199 would create a multi-stakeholder advisory committee to address geolocation information challenges for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; S. 3266 would support athletic programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; S. 3468 would establish a national programmable cloud laboratories network for research; S. 3639 would expedite satellite and space license processing; and S. 3700 would establish an expert review panel for FAA safety management systems. The committee also considered nominations of Daniel Edwards, Ryan McCormack, Steven Haines, Robert Harvey, and John DeLeeuw to various transportation and commerce positions. Following the February 3 session, the committee advanced all eight bills on February 12, 2026, with amendments. A business meeting does not guarantee bills will advance to the full Senate, though in this case the committee voted to move them forward.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Feb 12, 2026
Feb 12, 2026 · 15:00
On February 12, 2026, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a business meeting to consider eight bipartisan bills. The bills addressed diverse policy areas: S. 71 would require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in passenger rail car bathrooms; S. 1898, the ORBITS Act, would establish a demonstration program for active remediation of orbital debris and develop uniform orbital debris standards; S. 2585, the MAP for Broadband Funding Act, would modernize the federal broadband funding map to improve deployment efficiency; S. 3199 would establish an advisory committee to address geolocation information challenges for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; S. 3266 would support athletic programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; S. 3468 would create a national programmable cloud laboratories network to enhance research and innovation; S. 3639, the SAT Streamlining Act, would expedite satellite and space license processing; and S. 3700, the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act, would establish an expert review panel for FAA safety management systems. The committee also cleared Coast Guard promotions. Following the business meeting, the committee held a hearing to examine the National Transportation Safety Board's final report on a midair collision near Washington, D.C. All eight bills were advanced by the committee that day, though advancement from committee does not guarantee passage in the full Senate.
Feb 3, 2026 · 14:45
On February 3, 2026, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an executive session (business meeting) to consider eight bills and five nominations. The bills addressed diverse policy areas: S. 71 would require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in passenger rail bathrooms; S. 1898, the ORBITS Act, would establish a demonstration program for orbital debris remediation and uniform debris standards; S. 2585 would modernize the Broadband Funding Map to improve federal broadband deployment efficiency; S. 3199 would create a multi-stakeholder advisory committee to address geolocation information challenges for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; S. 3266 would support athletic programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; S. 3468 would establish a national programmable cloud laboratories network for research; S. 3639 would expedite satellite and space license processing; and S. 3700 would establish an expert review panel for FAA safety management systems. The committee also considered nominations of Daniel Edwards, Ryan McCormack, Steven Haines, Robert Harvey, and John DeLeeuw to various transportation and commerce positions. Following the February 3 session, the committee advanced all eight bills on February 12, 2026, with amendments. A business meeting does not guarantee bills will advance to the full Senate, though in this case the committee voted to move them forward.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Feb 12, 2026
Feb 12, 2026 · 15:00
On February 12, 2026, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a business meeting to consider eight bipartisan bills. The bills addressed diverse policy areas: S. 71 would require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in passenger rail car bathrooms; S. 1898, the ORBITS Act, would establish a demonstration program for active remediation of orbital debris and develop uniform orbital debris standards; S. 2585, the MAP for Broadband Funding Act, would modernize the federal broadband funding map to improve deployment efficiency; S. 3199 would establish an advisory committee to address geolocation information challenges for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; S. 3266 would support athletic programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; S. 3468 would create a national programmable cloud laboratories network to enhance research and innovation; S. 3639, the SAT Streamlining Act, would expedite satellite and space license processing; and S. 3700, the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act, would establish an expert review panel for FAA safety management systems. The committee also cleared Coast Guard promotions. Following the business meeting, the committee held a hearing to examine the National Transportation Safety Board's final report on a midair collision near Washington, D.C. All eight bills were advanced by the committee that day, though advancement from committee does not guarantee passage in the full Senate.
