Political engagement

At Johnson & Johnson, we have a long history of balanced giving to members of both major political parties, as well as bipartisan and nonpartisan organizations. We always align those contributions with domestic and global pro-innovation health care initiatives that support patients, consumers, and the communities in which we live and work.

Facilitating a dialogue with all stakeholders promotes understanding, awareness and more informed policy-making. We remain committed to serving patients and providing high-quality products and services.

Our contributions are always made with this mission in mind.

Our 2024 global strategic imperatives align with our vision and guide how we prioritize our government affairs and policy activities. We support:

• Health care coverage and reimbursement that enable timely patient access to our innovative products and lead to high quality care;
• Regulatory policies that enable innovation, market access, and growth;
• Policies that provide incentives for innovation and enables sustainable investment and business growth;
• Public health policies as well as sustainable partnerships and programs to enhance public health.

Statements summarizing our position on key public policy issues are available at our ESG Policies & Positions.

Johnson & Johnson works with many organizations across the political spectrum on policy issues related to health and other topics that impact patients, health systems, consumers, and our Company. This means engaging with stakeholders, policy experts, and others to develop well-considered policies that reflect diverse perspectives.

We are a member of trade associations that advocate for solutions on behalf of our industry, and we provide financial support to policy development organizations and think tanks whose purpose is to develop policy position papers or model legislation, among other civic activities.
We may not align with or support every public position each of these broad-based groups takes. When we disagree with a position, we employ a range of approaches to make our voice heard. We believe our dissenting voice has greater impact when we participate as a member of these organizations offering a balance of perspective.

We take input from our stakeholders and determine how best to express our views to an organization―from simply declining to participate in certain initiatives sponsored by the organization, to partnering with other members to amplify our viewpoint both within the organization and externally, to reaching out directly to the organization’s leadership to examine a possible change in position.

Johnson & Johnson U.S. Government Affairs and Policy occasionally supports organizations that are organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. A list of these organizations supported in 2023 can be found here.

In the interest of advancing sound public policy, we support those persons who serve the public by seeking elected office. Where permitted by law in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Japan, our Company makes corporate political contributions, primarily to the electoral campaigns of individual candidates.

Consistent with U.S. federal and state laws, Johnson & Johnson has established the Johnson & Johnson Political Action Committee (J&J PAC), funded solely through employee contributions and with limited administrative support from Johnson & Johnson. J&J PAC offers eligible U.S. employees a direct means to voluntarily participate in shaping sound public policy and voicing views on issues related to our businesses. You can view the latest J&J PAC federal campaign finance report here.

In states where it is permitted, Johnson & Johnson makes corporate contributions to support state election campaigns, state party committees, and state ballot measures. Johnson & Johnson operates in accordance with all relevant laws. In addition, Johnson & Johnson does not use corporate funds to make any direct independent expenditures on behalf of candidates running for public office and does not currently have plans to use independent expenditures as part of Johnson & Johnson’s corporate political contributions program for those purposes.

We do not expect candidates who receive contributions from our employee political action committee or our Company to agree with our positions on all or any specific policy issues. Rather, we seek to support candidates who recognize the importance of medical innovation in improving lives and that a fair, market based system provides the best environment for continued innovation. We also seek to support candidates who recognize the importance of broad access to quality, affordable health care.

When selecting candidates for funding, priority is given to candidates' views on issues that concern the businesses of Johnson & Johnson and the impact of candidates' views on our employees or facilities in a candidates' state or district. Our contributions are intended to promote the interests of the company and the patients and customers we serve and are made without regard to the private political preferences of company officers and executives.
All political contributions must be made and reported in accordance with applicable federal, state and local campaign finance laws. To ensure compliance with our Company policy and federal and state law, outside legal counsel provides guidance to our Company on disclosure of our political activities.

An advisory committee comprising employees who are J&J PAC participants and who represent U.S. domestic operating companies assists the Company's Government Affairs & Policy department in selecting candidates, committees, and state ballot measures to support. Members of senior management approve all J&J PAC and U.S. corporate political contributions. The Vice Presidents of Federal and State Government Affairs and the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Government Affairs & Policy have final approval authority for all U.S. political contributions.

J&J PAC and U.S. corporate political spending is also subject to internal audit biennially. Our Code of Business Conduct prohibits employees from using Company funds or assets for political purposes unless approved by Government Affairs & Policy and the appropriate business or functional leader.

Regarding trade association independent expenditures, Johnson & Johnson does not plan to condition our membership specifically on an association’s decision relative to its policy on reporting independent expenditures, but we do encourage disclosure of political activity on the part of all organizations to which we belong.

Government proposals, either in regulation or legislation, may directly affect our business and our incentives for innovation. These policy initiatives can also affect the way we do business now and well into the future. That is why we are committed to communicating to government officials and policymakers through our Worldwide Government Affairs & Policy team. Our global government affairs team is responsible for advocacy activities within governments.

All our employees are expected to abide by our Code of Business Conduct. The Johnson & Johnson Code of Business Conduct is intended to make certain that all information disclosed to government entities is complete and accurate with reasonable due diligence. In the U.S., we also comply with federal and state lobby registration, ethics, and disclosure laws.

Our latest Federal lobbying disclosure filing can be found here.

Interactions with any government candidate or official must be conducted in a legal and ethical manner consistent with Our Credo, Company policies, and applicable laws. Our Health Care Business Integrity Guide and our Health Care Compliance Guide include direction on conforming to government ethics laws, conflict of interest laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and U.S. anti-kickback statutes. These guidance documents make clear that the Company takes a strong stance against bribery. We strictly prohibit illegal payments, including bribes and kickbacks, of any kind that may be offered or made to individuals or entities. The policy clearly prohibits improper payments to government officials, candidates for office and political party officials.

Johnson & Johnson policies and positions are developed in coordination with corporate and operating company leaders through thorough analysis and discussion. General oversight is provided by the Regulatory Compliance & Sustainability Committee of the Johnson & Johnson Board of Directors.

As part of its oversight role in government affairs and policy, the Regulatory Compliance & Sustainability Committee of the Johnson & Johnson Board of Directors annually reviews a report of the Company's political contributions as well as the Company’s major lobbying priorities, lobbying policies, practices, and activities, including the annual dues to trade associations of $50,000 or more, where a percentage of the annual dues may be used for federal lobbying.