Bipartisan Group Introduces Bill to Ban Congressional Stock Trading

Capitol Trades data was cited by Spectrum News as lawmakers introduced the Restore Trust in Congress Act, a bipartisan bill seeking to limit individual stock trading by members of Congress. On Wednesday, members of the House of Representatives from both parties introduced the Restore Trust in Congress Act, a bill designed to address long-standing concerns about conflicts of interest and public trust in government.

The legislation combines several previous attempts to limit congressional stock trading into one comprehensive proposal. If passed, it would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading individual stocks, while still allowing investments in diversified mutual funds. The objective is clear: public service should not be a pathway to private financial gain.

Rep. Chip Roy, a lead sponsor of the bill, emphasized the stakes. “If you want to day trade, leave Congress. It’s that simple,” he said at the press conference. Roy was joined by progressive Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), along with Republicans such as Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Rep. Tim Burchett, highlighting a rare show of unity across the aisle.

The urgency is fueled by data showing extensive trading activity by lawmakers. Capitol Trades reported that 113 members of Congress executed 9,261 stock trades in 2024, involving 76 million shares. These figures have amplified concerns that lawmakers may be profiting from access to information unavailable to the general public.

Earlier proposals, such as the 2021 TRUST in Congress Act, called for blind trusts but failed to advance. This time, lawmakers insist momentum is different. “We are not going to let another Congress pass without getting this done,” Fitzpatrick said.

Support for the ban extends beyond Congress, with House Speaker Mike Johnson signaling openness and figures like former President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent voicing approval. Rep. Seth Magaziner summed up the public’s frustration: “The opportunity for corruption is just so great.”

As the Restore Trust in Congress Act moves forward, it underscores the growing demand for accountability and the belief that elected officials must serve the nation, not their portfolios.