H.R.1373 - Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.1373, the Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025, aims to increase the transparency of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) by requiring that certain meetings of the TVA Board, committees, and subcommittees be open to the public. It mandates public notice of meetings at least six calendar days in advance via the TVA website and requires the public availability of meeting minutes and summaries. The bill includes an exception for emergency special meetings designated by the Board's chairman.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely lead to greater public awareness of TVA's decision-making processes. This could foster increased accountability and potentially influence the TVA's actions based on public feedback. The changes mandated by the bill will amend Section 2(g)(2) of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933.
Potential Benefits
- Increased public access to information regarding TVA operations.
- Greater accountability of the TVA Board and its committees.
- Potential for more informed public discourse on TVA policies.
- Enhanced public trust in the TVA through transparent practices.
- Opportunity for public input and influence on TVA decisions.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative burden on the TVA to comply with the transparency requirements.
- Possible delays in decision-making due to the need for public notice and open meetings.
- Risk of sensitive information being disclosed in public meetings, although the bill appears to address this by only requiring transparency for meetings where a vote is not scheduled.
- The exception for emergency meetings could be exploited to bypass transparency requirements.
- Limited scope, as it only addresses meeting transparency and not other aspects of TVA operations.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the principles of government transparency and accountability, which are implicitly supported by the First Amendment's guarantees of freedom of speech and the press. While the Constitution does not explicitly mandate transparency for all government agencies, promoting openness in government operations is generally consistent with its underlying principles of citizen participation and informed consent. Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the power to regulate and oversee government entities such as the TVA.
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).