Alexander, Duncan Introduce Resolution Congratulating TVA on 80th Anniversary of Tennessee River System Plan

Resolution recognizes TVA for providing low-cost electricity, controlling floods, improving river navigation across seven states

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 7, 2016 – U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Rep. John Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.) today introduced a resolution praising the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for its successful construction and management of the “Unified Plan of the Development of the Tennessee River” which began with Norris Dam in 1936, the first dam TVA constructed on the Tennessee River system.

“Today, we celebrate TVA’s long and proud history of service to the Tennessee Valley region,” Alexander said. “TVA was created to provide low-cost electricity, promote economic development, and invest in environmental stewardship, and that is exactly what TVA has done. I congratulate TVA for its work to control flooding and improve navigation of the Tennessee River system over the past 80 years, which started at Norris Dam.”

“TVA has been a positive influence to East Tennessee since its inception in 1933,” Duncan said. “Employing many, poverty-stricken Tennesseans in the wake of the Great Depression, TVA has been a staple to the region and the Country. Their effort to provide low-cost power to the region is a strong factor in why more and more people, and businesses, are relocating to East Tennessee. I want to congratulate them on 80 years of serving our Nation.”

Today, Alexander and Duncan introduced a resolution to recognize TVA and congratulate the agency on the 80th anniversary of the “Unified Plan of the Development of the Tennessee River,” which was submitted to Congress in March of 1936. The plan outlined a way for TVA to improve navigation and control flooding throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The resolution also recognizes TVA’s Norris Dam, which was completed on July 28, 1936. Norris Dam was the first dam TVA constructed and has been operating for 80 years. The resolution was cosponsored by Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Reps. Diane Black (R-Tenn.), Jim Cooper (R-Tenn.), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) and Phil Roe (R-Tenn.).

Created by Congress in 1933 and based in Knoxville, Tenn., TVA is the nation’s largest public utility and serves more than 9 million customers in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. TVA provides electricity to more than 2.7 million Tennessee homes and there are more than 7,000 TVA employees and nearly 14,500 TVA retirees who live in Tennessee.