Congressman Cohen Applauds House Passage of TVA Salary Transparency Act

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today applauded the passage of his TVA Salary Transparency Act, which would reinstate and modernize the Tennessee Valley Authority’s annual reporting requirement to Congress on its management structure and on the compensation of its top executives and managers. Specifically, the legislation would correct a change enacted in 1995 that removed a requirement to disclose the management structure and salaries of TVA executives as part of legislation to eliminate antiquated federal agency reporting requirements.

Congressman Cohen and Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-2) introduced the measure last year and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed an amended version by voice vote on July 27.

The measure today passed by a voice vote and is now eligible for consideration by the U.S. Senate.

During his remarks on the House floor, Congressman Cohen stated:

“This bill reflects a fair compromise between our legitimate congressional oversight responsibilities over TVA and the needs of TVA to retain and maintain a pool of talented, diverse, and effective management staff, executives, and board members...I have asked TVA for salary transparency time and time again but have been refused information beyond the five highest-paid employees included in their annual SEC disclosure...That is the kind of potential problem that could benefit from some Congressional oversight. A vote for this bill is a vote for a more transparent, more accountable, better TVA.”

Congressman Burchett also spoke in favor of the measure during today’s floor debate.

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