The Senate unanimously passed my bill to enhance the oversight board that supervises the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), a vital institution that trains the men and women, including Arkansans, who ensure our country can extend its reach across the oceans.

In today’s world, we need trained merchant mariners who it can call upon during times of emergency, natural disaster, or foreign conflict. The Board of Visitors should help the Academy meet this need, and it should ensure that the Academy provides a first-rate experience to the midshipmen who have volunteered to serve our country in uniform.

Each federal service academy has a Board of Visitors. However, the Boards at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and West Point, are directly empowered by law to carry out thorough oversight activities. While current law creates a Board for the USMMA, it does adequately structure the Board to carry out its oversight duties. My bill will change that and give the Board some real authorities to ensure that the Academy provides a first-rate experience to the midshipmen who have volunteered to serve our country in uniform.

I encourage the House to quickly consider and pass my bill.