An act to amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to revise and reenact the laws pertaining to the United States Merchant Marine Academy and to State maritime academies and for other maritime education and training purposes.

(Measure passed House, amended)

Maritime Education and Training Act of 1980 - Amends the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 to integrate existing provisions of Federal law concerning maritime education and training by the United States Merchant Marine Academy (Academy), State maritime colleges, and civilian nautical schools.

Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish minimum requirements and a system of competition for selecting candidates to the Academy. Requires such competition to determine the relative merit of appointing an individual to the Academy through: (1) the use of competitive examinations; (2) an assessment of the academic background of the individual; and (3) such other factors as are considered effective indicators of motivation and the probability of successful completion of training at the Academy.

Allows the Secretary, each year, to appoint without competition as cadets at the Academy not more than 40 qualified individuals possessing qualities deemed to be of special value to the Academy. Prohibits granting any preference in the selection process to members of the families of Academy alumni.

Requires any U.S. citizen selected for appointment to the Academy to agree to apply for midshipman status in the U.S. Naval Reserve before being appointed as a cadet at the Academy. Allows the Secretary, upon designation by the Secretary of the Interior, to permit individuals from the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to receive instruction at the Academy. Allows the President to designate individuals from nation located in the Western Hemisphere other than the United States to receive instruction at the Academy.

Requires each candidate who is a U.S. citizen, as a condition of appointment, to sign an agreement committing the candidate: (1) to complete instruction at the Academy; (2) to fulfill the requirements for a license as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States on or before the date of graduation; (3) to maintain a license as an officer in the merchant marine of the United State for at least six years following graduation; (4) to apply for and, if tendered, accept a six-year appointment as a commissioned officer in the United States Naval Reserve, the United States Coast Guard Reserve, or any other reserve unit of the United States armed forces for at least six years following graduation; (5) to serve the foreign and domestic commerce and the national defense of the United States for at least five years following graduation; and (6) to report to the Secretary on compliance with such agreement. Authorizes the Secretary to order any cadet who violates the agreement to active duty to serve the unexpired portion of required service.

Allows the Secretary to defer the service commitment of any individual for a period of not more than 2 years if such individual is engaged in a graduate course of study approved by the Secretary.

Allows the Secretary to provide for the training of cadets at the Academy: (1) on vessels owned or subsidized by the United States; (2) on other vessels documented under the laws of the United States if the owner of any such vessel cooperates in such use; and (3) in shipyards or plants and with any industrial or educational organization.

Authorizes the chairmen of the congressional committees having legislative jurisdiction over the Academy to designate committee staff members as staff members for the Board of Visitors of the Academy.

Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory board to the Academy which shall visit the Academy at least once during each academic year for the purpose of examining the course of instruction and management of the Academy.

Directs the maritime academy Governors of the States or territories cooperating to sponsor a regional to identify the State or territory to conduct the affairs of such academy. Declares that a regional maritime academy is eligible for Federal assistance on the same basis as a State maritime academy.

Authorizes the Secretary to pay the costs to such a regional or State college for fuel used for training cruises. Allows the Secretary to provide for the training of individuals attending a State maritime academy: (1) on vessels owned or subsidized by the United States; (2) on other vessels documented under the laws of the United States if the owner of any such vessel cooperates in such use; and (3) in shipyards or plants and with any industrial or educational organizations.

Requires the Secretary to provide each State maritime academy guidance and assistance in developing courses on the operation and maintenance of new vessels, on equipment, and on innovations being introduced to the merchant marine.

Allows for the detail, without reimbursement, of any of the personnel of the United States Navy, Coast Guard, or Maritime Service to any State maritime academy to serve as superintendents, professors, lecturers, or instructors at such academy.

Sets forth conditions under which a State maritime academy may receive any payment or the use of any vessel.

Authorizes the Secretary to make loans to college students. Requires that each student receiving a loan agree to certain conditions concerning use of the loan and post-graduate service obligations. Authorizes the Secretary to order any individual who violates such agreement to active duty to serve a specified period of time. Allows the Secretary in cases of hardship to waive such service.

Allows the Secretary to establish and maintain a voluntary organization for the training of citizens of the United States to serve on merchant marine vessels of the United States to be known as the United States Maritime Service. Subjects each civilian nautical school, if established, to examination and inspection by the Secretary.

Subjects any vessel or other floating equipment, other than a vessel of the United States Navy or Coast Guard, used by such school to the vessel inspection laws of the United States. Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue regulations to carry out the inspection of such vessels and floating equipment.

Authorizes the Secretary: (1) to lend surplus shipping equipment to the Academy, colleges, or other approved merchant marine training schools for instructional purposes; (2) to utilize resources of other Federal agencies, with the consent of such agencies, for maritime-education purposes; and (3) to employ instructors for maritime-education courses without regard to specified provisions of Federal law concerning the classification of civil service positions and General Schedule pay rates.

Repeals certain provisions of Federal law relating to marine education and training.