Congressman Mark Meadows

Representing the 11th District of North Carolina

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Rep. Meadows' Proposal on TVA Signed Into Law

Dec 19, 2016
Press Release

Washington, D.C. – On Friday, Rep. Mark Meadows’ (R-NC) proposal to stop the Tennessee Valley Authority’s plan to ban floating cabins was signed into law by President Obama. The proposal passed the Senate as an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA) earlier this month.

Earlier this year, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced their intentions to eventually outlaw floating cabins by proposing a 30-year “sunset” provision. The policy would negatively impact nearly 400 floating cabin owners on Lake Fontana in North Carolina, forcing hundreds of families to move from homes they have lived in for years while disastrously affecting their private assets and property values. The economies of nearby counties, particularly Swain and Graham County, would also feel significant negative effects.

The Subcommittee on Government Operations, which Rep. Meadows chairs, held a hearing on this issue in September that included two witnesses from Western North Carolina: Laura Sneed, founder of Fontana Families for Floating Houses, and David Monteith, Vice Chairman of the Swain County Board of Commissioners

“The TVA’s decision to ban floating cabins has already had devastating effects for hundreds of hard-working owners and the surrounding economy in my district--even well before the 30-year timeline expires,” Rep. Meadows said. “The federal government has a bad habit of getting involved in the lives of tax-paying families without seriously evaluating the consequences. This case is a classic example. I am thrilled to see the amendment become law, and while there is work to be done, I hope that this measure can play a small role in sending a message that this kind of government overreach will not be tolerated.”

 

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