Bipartisan House Coalition Advances Bill Banning Congressional Stock Trading

A bipartisan group of U.S. House members, including Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Chip Roy, Seth Magaziner, and Anna Paulina Luna, introduced the Restore Trust in Congress Act to ban members of Congress and their families from owning or trading individual stocks, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest and restore public trust in government. The legislation consolidates several previous proposals and includes strong enforcement mechanisms, with fines and divestment requirements for current and incoming members. The bill has garnered support from both progressive and conservative lawmakers, reflecting a rare political alliance that spans from Trump-aligned conservatives to Democratic progressives. Some supporters, including Luna, have threatened to use procedural tactics such as discharge petitions to force a House floor vote if leadership does not act promptly. Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed support for a ban but voiced concerns about potential impacts on candidate recruitment, while advocates remain determined to see the bill passed. This bipartisan push marks a significant step toward ending congressional stock trading, a practice that many Americans view as a breach of trust.