[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO ABOLISH THE FEDERAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE 
                       TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 1997

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce a bill 
abolishing the direct annual Federal appropriation to the Tennessee 
Valley Authority [TVA] at the end of fiscal year 1997. The elimination 
of this subsidy which has been provided by Congress since TVA's 
creation in 1933 is something that has been long overdue. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this bill.
  As a product of the new deal, the TVA was created as an independent, 
government-owned corporation exempt from taxation. Its original mission 
was to bring electricity and lights to the Appalachian hills and 
foothills. TVA serves a population of more than 7 million people in an 
80,000 square mile region in Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Georgia, 
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. By some accounts 
the TVA is the Nation's largest utility.
  Over the years TVA's mission has expanded to a point where some 
projects it currently undertakes are questionable at best. For example: 
Why would TVA be doing ozone research for the Federal Government when 
we already have an Environmental Protection Agency? What is TVA doing 
in China promoting trade when they are wholly owned by the U.S. 
Government and we currently have a Commerce Department to promote 
trade?
  In fiscal year 97 TVA received $106 million for its non-power 
programs which includes five major areas: Stewardship, Water and Land, 
Land Between the Lakes, Economic Development and the Environmental 
Research Center. Recently, TVA's chairman Craven Crowell recommended 
that TVA stop receiving an annual Federal appropriation for its non-
power programs. I couldn't agree with him more and for that reason I am 
introducing this bill to speed the process along.
  My bill would stop all funding for TVA's non-power programs at the 
end of this fiscal year and not at the end of fiscal year 1999 as 
Chairman Crowell recommends. It simply amends Section 27 of the TVA Act 
of 1933 to authorize no more direct Federal monies for the TVA. With 
annual revenues of over $5 billion, TVA should not find it very 
difficult to abide by this new proposal. It should be the ratepayers of 
that region which fund TVA's activities not taxpayers all across the 
Nation. Pull the plug on the TVA now!!!!!

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