After we hear from the nominees, we will have a panel to take testimony on the Tennessee Valley Authority and some of the important issues before it.
I welcome our three nominees as well as Senator Lott, Senator Cochran, and Representatives Pickering and Wicker who are here today to introduce Mayor McCullough and Senators Thompson and Frist, who will introduce Ms. Harris. Some of the nominees are accompanied by family members, and I will ask you to introduce them when you start your statements.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a wholly owned government corporation, conducts a unified program of resource development for the advancement of economic growth in the Tennessee Valley region. The Authority's program of activities includes: flood control, navigation and development, electric power production, recreation improvement, and forestry and wildlife development.
The President has nominated Mayor Glenn L. McCullough for appointment as Member of TVA. Mr. McCullough has served as Mayor of Tupelo since 1997. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Municipal League and the Governor's Special Task Force for Economic Development Planning.
The second TVA nominee is Ms. Skila Harris. Ms. Harris has served in the Department of Energy during both the Carter and Clinton Administrations and has over twelve years of experience in the field of energy.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Harris was Executive Director of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, where she managed the work of the Tennessee Valley Advisory Committee.
The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is tasked to investigate chemical accidents and report the facts, circumstances, and the cause or probable cause of any accidental release resulting in a fatality, serious injury or substantial property damages.
The President has nominated Dr. Gerald V. Poje for reappointment as Member of the Board. Dr. Poje has served as Member since January 1998. He is a specialist in toxicology and policies dealing with chemical hazards. He has worked with the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to promote global remediation and contingency planning around Y2K problems.
Our final panel this afternoon will focus on TVA policy, and on the TVA Customer Protection Act of 1999 (S. 1323), introduced by Senators McConnell and Bunning.
It has been some time since this Committee held any TVA hearings, and frankly they are long overdue. There are many questions to ask of TVA. For example, how does TVA's mission today compare to its mission in 1933? Is TVA serving its constituency the ratepayers in the Valley as fairly and effectively as possible? Is it time for TVA to undertake some reforms?
I want to commend Senator McConnell for introducing S. 1323, which in my view offers many common-sense suggestions for this Committee's consideration. Senator Thompson, too, has offered suggestions that his committee [Government Affairs] may take up, dealing specifically with the appointment process for TVA's Inspector General. I look forward to both senators' participation this afternoon.
Now we will hear the statements of Senator Baucus and other Committee members, then our first panel of Senators and Representatives. Family Members Accompanying Nominees
Mayor McCullough Laura McCullough (wife) Vance Hudson McCullough (son) Glenn Thomas McCullough (son) Glenn & Lanier McCullough (parents) Sarah Hudson McCullough (sister) Mary Conner & David Adcock (sister& brother-in-law) Shaw Adcock (nephew)
Ms. Harris Fred Graham (husband) Linda Harris (sister)