[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6382-S6383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY NOMINEES

  Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, the Tennessee Valley Authority, or TVA, is 
a multibillion-a-year utility--one of the largest in the Nation. It 
plays a critical role in our economic development efforts in Tennessee 
by providing low-cost, reliable power that is essential to attracting, 
retaining, and growing jobs.
  Strong, independent leadership at TVA is a priority for all 
Tennesseans, and the Senate is scheduled to vote tomorrow morning on 
two nominees to serve on the TVA board.
  TVA board members' sole focus should be ensuring ratepayers 
throughout the Tennessee Valley have affordable, reliable power, and 
they must be free to operate the entity without undue influence from 
outside individuals.
  While I respect the two nominees currently being considered, I have 
grown increasingly concerned by the nomination process and the 
potential influence--or perception of influence--that an outside 
investor who has proposed a multibillion-dollar project to TVA has had 
on this process. I have shared those concerns with the White House and 
the majority leader through several conversations.
  I was particularly disappointed the majority leader announced he was 
moving forward with votes despite being aware of these issues--making 
it the first time TVA nominations have been confirmed by a rollcall 
vote since 1987.
  While I still believe the selection of TVA board members and their 
confirmations deserve a closer look moving forward, today I received 
copies of letters from Virginia T. Lodge and Ronald A. Walter that 
address the concerns regarding the potential influence of an outside 
individual who has business dealings with TVA.
  I ask unanimous consent that the full text of both letters be printed 
in the Record.
  The nominees' forthright letters and their decision to recuse 
themselves helps ensure that there is no appearance of a lack of 
impartiality, and I plan to support both of their nominations.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:
                                                 December 8, 2014.
     Mr. Ralph E. Rodgers,
     Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Designated 
         Agency Ethics Official, Tennessee Valley Authority, 
         Knoxville, Tennessee.
       Dear Mr. Rodgers: This supplements my July 30, 2014, letter 
     to you describing steps that I will take to avoid any actual 
     or apparent conflict of interest, consistent with 5 C.F.R. 
     Sec. 2635.502, in the event I am confirmed to serve on the 
     Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
       While I have neither made nor been asked to make any 
     commitments on any projects involving TVA, during the 
     pendency of my nomination I have had contact and discussions 
     with Franklin Haney, with whom I am acquainted, and persons 
     associated with him. I am aware that Mr. Haney has had 
     business dealings with TVA in the past and has made 
     significant business proposals to TVA that may extend into 
     the future. In order to avoid even the appearance of a lack 
     of impartiality, I will not participate personally and 
     substantially in any particular matter in which Mr. Haney or 
     any person on his behalf is a party or represents a party, or 
     in which Mr. Haney, or his family, would have a direct or 
     indirect financial interest.
           Sincerely,
                                                Virginia T. Lodge.

[[Page S6383]]

     
                                  ____
                                                 December 8, 2014.
     Mr. Ralph E. Rodgers,
     Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Designated Agency 
         Ethics Official, Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, 
         Tennessee.
       Dear Mr. Rodgers: This supplements my July 3, 2014, letter 
     to you describing steps that I will take to avoid any actual 
     or apparent conflict of interest, consistent with 5 C.F.R. 
     Sec. 2635.502, in the event I am confirmed to serve on the 
     Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
       While I have neither made nor been asked to make any 
     commitments on any projects involving TVA, during the 
     pendency of my nomination I have had contact and discussions 
     with Franklin Haney, with whom I am acquainted, and persons 
     associated with him. I have become aware that Mr. Haney has 
     had business dealings with TVA in the past and has made 
     significant business proposals to TVA that may extend into 
     the future. In order to avoid any appearance of a lack of 
     impartiality, I will not participate personally and 
     substantially in any particular matter in which Mr. Haney or 
     any person on his behalf is a party or represents a party, or 
     in which Mr. Haney, or his family, would have a direct or 
     indirect financial interest.
           Sincerely,
     Ronald A. Walter.

                          ____________________