Legislation recently introduced by U.S Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) would require members of the House of Representatives to post records of taxpayer-funded travel expenses on official websites to promote transparency.
The Taxpayer-Funded Travel Transparency Act, H.R. 5336, would require members of the House to make public on an official website any travel expenses paid by the Department of Defense, Department of State or House offices.
“I believe it is incumbent upon us as representatives of the people to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Ellmers said. “The American people work hard for their paycheck — and out of respect to our constituents who sent us to Washington — we have an obligation to be transparent and shed light on how their dollars are used.”
Under the bill, members of the House would be required to post taxpayer funded travel expenses on their own official website. The House Administration Committee would also be directed to maintain a public online database of those expenditures.
“As a true fiscal conservative, I believe American taxpayers have a right to know where their elected representative travels and at what cost,” Ellmers said. “I am proud to sponsor legislation that enhances transparency of taxpayer dollars while fulfilling our responsibility of government oversight.”