Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB144

Introduced
1/3/25  
Refer
1/3/25  
Refer
1/4/25  

Caption

Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency ActThis bill expands reporting requirements for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). TVA is a government corporation that provides electricity in Tennessee and in portions of several surrounding states. It also provides flood control, navigation, and land management services for the Tennessee River system.The bill reinstates the requirement for TVA to file an annual financial statement and report with Congress in March. (The requirement was terminated by the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995.)The bill also modifies the requirement that the report include the names, salaries, and duties of employees earning more than $1,500 a year. Under the bill, this information is only required for employees earning more than the maximum rate of basic pay for grade GS-13 of the General Schedule.

Impact

If enacted, HB144 would impact state and federal laws that govern salary disclosures by public entities, particularly those tied to the federal government. By exempting TVA from the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995, the bill ensures that specific compensation information remains publicly available, thereby increasing accountability for public funds. This legislative move is expected to promote transparency within the TVA, a crucial entity that provides electricity across multiple states in the Southeast United States.

Summary

House Bill 144, known as the Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act, is designed to ensure that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) maintains transparency in its salary disclosures, particularly for its management employees and board members. The bill amends the existing TVA Act by requiring the TVA to report the total number of employees at the management level, including their names, salaries, and job duties, specifically for those earning above a certain compensation threshold. This act reflects a broader trend towards demanding accountability in public sector compensation amidst concerns of how taxpayer money is being utilized.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB144 is largely positive among proponents who value transparency and accountability in government spending. Advocates argue that such disclosures are essential for public trust, as they ensure that taxpayer money is being managed responsibly. Conversely, some critics may argue that excessive disclosure could lead to privacy issues for individuals and discourage potential candidates from seeking public service roles due to fear of public scrutiny. Overall, the sentiment can be characterized as supportive but cautious.

Contention

Contents of the bill have sparked debate regarding the need for transparency versus the potential risks of exposing personal salary information. Supporters claim that this level of disclosure is vital for accountability, especially for an organization like the TVA, which operates with federal oversight and public funding. On the other hand, reservations exist about whether such detailed salary disclosures might infringe on privacy rights and affect recruitment in a competitive job market. The discussions reflect a key tension between the necessity of public transparency and safeguarding individual privacy rights.

Congress_id

119-HR-144

Policy_area

Government Operations and Politics

Introduced_date

2025-01-03

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB4693

Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act

US HB404

Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2023 This bill revises the duties of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors to include holding public meetings. The board must provide public notice at least six days before such a meeting, unless the meeting is designated as an emergency. The TVA provides low-cost electricity in seven southeastern states. It also provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system.

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US SB26

Stop the Nosy Obsession with Online Payments Act of 2023 or the SNOOP Act of 2023 This bill modifies requirements for third party settlement organizations to eliminate their reporting requirement with respect to the transactions of their participating payees unless they have earned more than $20,000 on more than 200 separate transactions in an applicable tax period. A third party settlement organization is the central organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (generally, a merchant or business) in a third party payment network. This reverses a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that lowered the reporting threshold to $600 with no minimum on the number of transactions.

US HB224

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Similar Bills

No similar bills found.