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H.R. 2429 directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a comprehensive ten-year modernization plan for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, one of the nation's five federal service academies that trains officers for the commercial maritime industry and national defense. The bill addresses aging campus facilities dating back to the Academy's founding by requiring new or renovated buildings for training laboratories, athletic facilities, dormitories, and waterfront infrastructure, along with upgrades to utilities, technology systems, and safety features across the campus. The legislation authorizes $1.02 billion in funding through fiscal year 2035, with $54 million allocated for design and planning in 2026 and approximately $107 million annually thereafter for construction, drawn from the Maritime Security Trust Fund. The modernization plan must be completed while keeping the Academy fully operational, and agencies are encouraged to use design-build contracts to expedite projects and reduce costs. This investment aims to ensure the Academy can effectively train the licensed merchant mariners needed to maintain a strong domestic maritime industry and support national security objectives.

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