H.R.1373 - Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025 (H.R. 1373) aims to increase the transparency of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) by requiring that its board meetings be open to the public. It amends the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 to include all deliberations of the board, committees, and subcommittees as 'meetings' subject to open meeting requirements under section 552b of title 5, United States Code (the Government in the Sunshine Act). The act also mandates the publication of meeting notices and other relevant information on the TVA's website.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to greater public scrutiny of the TVA's decision-making processes. It will require the TVA to disclose more information about its operations, potentially increasing accountability. However, it also includes exemptions that allow the TVA to withhold information related to power availability requests and contract negotiations if disclosure would compromise its competitive position.
Potential Benefits
- Increased public access to TVA board meetings and deliberations.
- Greater transparency in TVA decision-making processes.
- Enhanced accountability of the TVA to the public.
- Improved public awareness of TVA activities and policies.
- Potential for more informed public input on TVA decisions.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative burden on the TVA.
- Possible chilling effect on internal deliberations due to increased public scrutiny.
- Exemptions could be used to shield important information from the public.
- Emergency meeting exception could be exploited to limit public input.
- Risk that increased transparency could compromise the TVA's competitive position in certain areas.
Constitutional Alignment
The act aligns with the principles of government transparency and accountability, which are implicit in the US Constitution. While the Constitution does not explicitly address the transparency of government agencies like the TVA, the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech and the press supports the idea of open government. The act seeks to ensure that the public has access to information about the TVA's operations, which is consistent with the notion of an informed citizenry essential for self-governance.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).