USMMA Athletics Act of 2026

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Bill ID: 119/s/3266
Last Updated: June 16, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

ID: W000437

Follow the money

The bill

USMMA Athletics Act of 2026

S. 3266, 119th Congress.

The sponsor

Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$682,800 raised

25 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 434.

June 14, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, brought to you by the esteemed members of Congress. The USMMA Athletics Act of 2026 is a shining example of how to create a bill that sounds good on paper but is actually a vehicle for cronyism, bureaucratic empire-building, and blatant disregard for taxpayer dollars.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of this bill is to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) by establishing a nonprofit corporation to manage its athletic programs. Because, you know, the USMMA's athletic programs were just languishing without a bloated bureaucracy to "support" them. The objectives are clear: create a new entity that can siphon off taxpayer money and provide a plum job or two for connected insiders.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill establishes a nonprofit corporation, owned by the US government (because that's not a conflict of interest), to support USMMA athletic programs. It allows the Secretary of Transportation to enter into sole-source contracts (read: no-bid contracts) and cooperative agreements with this new corporation, because who needs competition or transparency when handing out taxpayer money? The bill also permits the Secretary to rent or lease property to the corporation, with all proceeds going back to the corporation (because that's not a recipe for corruption). Oh, and let's not forget the "support services" provision, which allows the Secretary to provide utilities, office furnishings, and other goodies to the corporation, all on the taxpayer's dime.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The affected parties include the USMMA, its athletic programs, and the new nonprofit corporation. But let's be real, the real stakeholders are the politicians, bureaucrats, and contractors who will benefit from this boondoggle. The taxpayers, as always, will be left footing the bill.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** The potential impact of this bill is to create a new layer of bureaucratic waste, cronyism, and corruption. It will likely result in a bloated budget for the USMMA's athletic programs, with little to no accountability or transparency. The implications are clear: more taxpayer money will be squandered on pet projects and sweetheart deals, while the actual needs of the USMMA and its students will continue to be neglected.

In conclusion, the USMMA Athletics Act of 2026 is a textbook example of how to create a bill that serves special interests at the expense of taxpayers. It's a legislative disease, symptomatic of a deeper corruption that infects our government. And we're all just along for the ride, forced to watch as our elected officials engage in this farce, pretending to care about the USMMA's athletic programs while lining their own pockets and those of their cronies. Bravo, Congress. Bravo.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$682,800
21 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$44,500
Committees
$0
Individuals
$638,300

No PAC contributions found

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
1 transaction
$25,000
2
MISSISSIPPI BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
1 transaction
$15,000
3
WT CONSULTANTS LLC
1 transaction
$2,500
4
WAYPOINT CONSULTING, LLC
1 transaction
$1,000
5
HEDERMAN BROTHERS, LLC
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
HALE, ROBERT T. JR.
2 transactions
$150,000
2
CHOUEST, GARY
1 transaction
$100,000
3
DUFF, THOMAS M.
2 transactions
$75,000
4
BLUE, J. NEAL
1 transaction
$50,000
5
GOLDING, STEPHEN D.
2 transactions
$50,000
6
ELLIOTT, MAC
1 transaction
$25,000
7
GOLDING, MELODY
1 transaction
$25,000
8
YATES, WILLIAM G. JR.
1 transaction
$25,000
9
ACKERMAN, FORREST
1 transaction
$25,000
10
VAN DEVENDER, WILLIAM J.
2 transactions
$25,000
11
TURNAGE, BEN O.
1 transaction
$19,900
12
MCRAE, DAVID
1 transaction
$18,400
13
GREEN, JOHNSON M.
1 transaction
$15,000
14
HURST, PAUL
1 transaction
$12,500
15
BARBOUR, HALEY
1 transaction
$12,500
16
CHOUEST AUSTIN, DIONNE
1 transaction
$10,000

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

ID: K000377

Top Contributors

10

1
PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE
OrganizationTUCSON, AZ
$3,300
Oct 23, 2023
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$2,500
May 23, 2024
3
GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationSACATON, AZ
$1,000
Jun 15, 2023
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Aug 12, 2024
5
CORMIER, STEPHEN
IndividualMANSFIELD, LA
$6,000
Dec 31, 2023
6
LEWIS, PAUL
NOT EMPLOYEDRETIRED
IndividualKINGMAN, AZ
$5,000
Oct 23, 2024
7
LEWIS, PAUL
IndividualKINGMAN, AZ
$5,000
Dec 6, 2024
8
BASS, JOSEPH P
NOT EMPLOYEDRETIRED
IndividualPORTLAND, OR
$5,000
Mar 29, 2024
9
PEROT, MARGOT B
NOT EMPLOYEDRETIRED
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$5,000
Apr 8, 2024
10
MILLER, JUDITH
IndividualINDIANAPOLIS, IN
$5,000
Sep 11, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 41 nodes and 28 connections (40 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $689,600

Top Donors - Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount

5 Orgs16 Individuals

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