Press Releases

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) introduced a pair of measures to rein in the federal health bureaucracy and restore trust in public health agencies.

 

The lawmakers introduced the Risky Research Review Act, which establishes an independent review board that oversees high-risk life sciences research proposals submitted by entities seeking federal funding. This body will effectively monitor, keep track of and approve or decline submitted proposals. The board must also submit reports and make them widely available to Congress and the public.

 

“We must demand accountability for the grave oversights that were revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The safety of our nation and the trust in its institutions depend on it. My bill not only strengthens transparency but also ensures that public health decisions are made in the best interest of the American people, free from financial motives and prioritizing national security,” said Dr. Paul. 

 

“Gain-of-function research is reported to be a potential target of a future President Trump Executive Order,” said Representative Griffith. “As someone who has extensively investigated COVID-19 origins and biosafety concerns in foreign labs, it is clear to me that greater oversight measures are needed to review gain-of-function research of concern and risky experiments that involve virus transmission in humans. The National Institutes of Health has proven they are not capable of properly reviewing risky research applications, as in the case of EcoHealth Alliance. I believe the Risky Research Review Act establishes crucial oversight measures to alleviate the legitimate and significant concerns of the American people, thus reestablishing trust in our public health agencies.”

 

Additionally, the legislators introduced the Royalty Transparency Act, a bill that requires officers and employees in the executive branch to file financial disclosure reports and report the details of royalty payments they receive. The bill mandates this information be made publicly accessible.

 

“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,” said Dr. Paul. “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.”

 

“For too long, federal bureaucrats concealed the royalties they received, who they were paid by, what they were compensated for and how much they were paid,” said Representative Griffith.  “As the Trump Administration ushers in a new era of transparency in our federal government, the Royalty Transparency Act will foster greater government transparency and accountability by requiring government officials in federal agencies to disclose the royalties that they receive as a result of their government service. I am excited to work with Senator Paul so we can shine a light on these royalties and hold federal bureaucrats to a greater standard of accountability.”

 

BACKGROUND

In the 118^th Congress, Rep. Griffith chaired the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations.

Rep. Griffith chaired hearings on various issues, including but not limited to topics of biosafety and risky research.

Rep. Griffith was the lead Energy and Commerce Member in numerous forums with public health officials that were in various leadership positions during the outbreak of COVID-19, including working closely with the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.

During this time, Chairman Griffith participated in closed-door transcribed interviews questioning former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci and questioning former NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins.

Rep. Griffith was also a key figure in examining EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak.

EcoHealth is the company that received grants from NIAID which in turn gave subgrants to the Wuhan Institute of Virology to conduct research on Coronavirus evolution and transmission.

Because of questions asked by Rep. Griffith related to significant inconsistencies and delays in required reports, among others, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that Dr. Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance would be debarred for five years, cutting them off from U.S. federal funding.

In January of 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump was considering an Executive Order to halt federal funding to gain-of-function research. In response, Rep. Griffith called on President Trump to scrutinize the country’s national gain-of-function research policy.

Some of Rep. Griffith’s e-newsletters on these topics can be found here and here.

Full text of the Risky Research Act can be found here.

Also in the 118^th Congress, Rep. Griffith introduced the Royalty Transparency Act.

One instance of concern with federal bureaucrat royalty payments stems from Dr. Fauci, who at one time earned the title of highest-paid federal government employee. In 2022, he received $481,000, more than the president of the U.S. who receives $400,000.

Also Dr. Fauci was set to receive the largest federal retirement package in history, with a reported first-year pension payout of $414,000.

Additionally, Dr. Fauci and his wife, Dr. Christine Grady, saw their net worth increase from around $7.6 million in 2019 to $11.5 million in late 2022.

Text of the Royalty Transparency Act can be found here.

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