H.R.144 - Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 144, the Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act, amends Section 9 of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933. It mandates the TVA to report the names, salaries, and duties of employees at the management level or above who receive compensation at or greater than the maximum rate of basic pay for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule. The bill also exempts this salary information from disclosure under section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code, and the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act.
Expected Effects
The Act will make TVA salary information for high-level employees publicly available, promoting transparency. However, it also creates an exemption from certain public disclosure requirements, potentially limiting access to this information. This could lead to increased scrutiny of TVA's executive compensation practices while simultaneously shielding some data from broader public access.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in the compensation of TVA's high-level employees.
- Allows the public and Congress to better understand how TVA allocates its resources.
- May encourage more responsible spending and compensation practices within the TVA.
- Provides a clear definition of which employee salaries must be disclosed.
- Could lead to greater accountability for TVA executives and board members.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Exempts the salary information from certain public disclosure requirements, potentially limiting access.
- Could create a chilling effect on attracting top talent to the TVA if salaries are perceived as too exposed.
- May lead to increased administrative burden for the TVA in preparing and managing the required reports.
- The exemption from disclosure could be seen as a step away from complete transparency.
- Potential for misuse of salary information, such as for targeted harassment or unwanted solicitation.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the constitutional principle of transparency and accountability, as it mandates the disclosure of certain salary information. Congress's power to legislate on matters related to government agencies and their operations is derived from Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. The exemption from certain disclosure requirements could be viewed as a balancing act between transparency and the need to protect certain information, which is within Congress's purview.
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).