WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) announced that their bipartisan Royalty Transparency Act has advanced in the Senate following committee approval. The legislation requires the disclosure of royalty payments from both government employees and advisory committee members in an effort to increase government accountability. Under current law, federal employees are not required to report the source or amount of royalty payments they receive for their government-related work. This lack of transparency prevents taxpayers from holding individuals accountable within the federal government for conflicts of interest and other abuse. Congressman Morgan Griffith is leading the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
The bill was approved overwhelmingly by a vote of 13-0.
“Distrust in public health officials is at an all-time high. One way to restore trust is to make sure that public policy isn’t influenced by personal gain. The Royalty Transparency Act will allow more information to be seen by the public to ensure federal decision makers, and the policies they write, aren’t being influenced by the royalty payments they receive,” said Dr. Rand Paul.
Currently, federal employees are not required to disclose the source or amount of royalties they receive for inventions, patents, or licensing agreements connected to their official duties—even when those payments come from private companies. The Royalty Transparency Act closes that loophole.
You can read the Royalty Transparency Act HERE.
For media inquiries, please email HSGACPress_Paul@hsgac.senate.gov
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