USMMA budget for 2012 reflects DOT commitment

When it comes to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, providing a top-notch education for all of the Kings Point midshipmen is my main priority.  To help achieve that, we have worked hard to make a comprehensive investment in the academy and its campus so that students, faculty, and staff have the resources to study, live, teach and work.

That's why I'm happy to let the Kings Point community know that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy will be seeing a 2012 budget that provides an unprecedented $85.2 million for the service academy.  That's a 15 percent increase above 2011 funding levels, and the largest amount received since the Academy’s inception. 

The budget signed last week by President Obama includes:

• $22.9 million for capital improvements--up 53 percent from 2011--including $17 million to begin renovating the remaining barracks;
• $5.9 million from the capital improvement program dedicated to a multi-year facilities maintenance and repair program; and
• $62.3 million for operations.

The budgeted amount for Academy operations is 6 percent higher than 2011 and should help Kings Point better meet the instructional, operations, and administrative requirements of the school. It also includes $250,000 for up to 5 additional staff members to support and manage the Capital Improvement Program and facility maintenance.

As I've said before, DOT will do whatever we can to restore this jewel to its rightful place among the nation's service academies. Since then, we have confirmed our willingness to make good on that pledge. In the first few months of this Administration, we worked for a $12 million budget increase for operations and capital improvements, and we created a blue-ribbon panel to study the institution's long-term needs. We followed that by launching a systematic effort to improve all of the facilities at Kings Point.

Since 2009, we have been steadfast in our effort to provide the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's cadets the faculty and facilities they need to prepare for effective maritime service.  The 2012 budget for the Academy is one more step in that ongoing effort, and the entire Kings Point community will be stronger for it.

Comments

[Jerry Pohn]

There truly are wonderful privelages to being part of a first world country. What a wonderful opportunity this new approved budget will offer to so many.

I hope all who benefit from it will truly appreciate the privelage of this opportunity.

[Ilene Ehrlich]

There seems to be alot of corruption and chicanary going on at the US Merchant Marine Academy.Why isn't the Obama Administration doing anything about it?

[Ed Minkler]

I was 16 when I joined the MM and recieved my training at Sheepheads Bay in 43/44. I still hold fond memories of the training ship ported at Baltimore.

I happy that MMA is going forward in life and continues to provide our youth with way aquire excellent sea training.

I sailed on ESSO tankers, quite a life working in the engine room for a young lad and quite an experience blowiing the boilers, WOW.

My experiences gained while serving in MM were a greeat benifit throughout my life to this day.

Ahoy MMA people.

Ed Minkler