Senate Democrats to Re-Introduce Bill to Ban Stock Trading by Congress Members

Strategic Insights -

Senate Democrats will re-introduce the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, a bill that aims to ban stock trading by members of Congress and their families. The bill's introduction comes after President Trump expressed support for the proposal, which has been gaining traction with voters. According to a 2023 poll, 86% of registered voters support banning lawmakers from trading individual stocks. The bill would require members of Congress and their families to place their stocks into a blind trust or divest the holdings, a move that both Ossoff and Kelly have already taken by placing their portfolios in blind trusts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act aims to ban stock trading by members of Congress and their families, backed by President Trump's endorsement.
  • The bill has gained popularity among voters, with 86% of registered voters supporting the ban, according to a 2023 University of Maryland poll.
  • Multiple studies have shown that members of Congress outperform the market on average, raising concerns about corruption.
  • The bill's introduction follows a bipartisan deal reached last year to move forward with the legislation, although progress stalled.
  • The proposed legislation requires members of Congress and their families to place their stocks into a blind trust or divest the holdings, a move already taken by Ossoff and Kelly.
  • The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).
  • Senate Republicans have introduced their own stock trading ban bill, called the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments Act (PELOSI Act).

Statistics:

  • 86% of registered voters support banning lawmakers from trading individual stocks, according to a 2023 University of Maryland poll (publicconsultation.org/united-states/stock-trading-by-members-of-congress/).
  • Members of Congress outperform the market on average, with 3 studies showing this trend (capitoltrades.com/).
  • A bipartisan deal was reached in 2024 to move forward with the stock trading ban legislation (axios.com/2024/07/10/stock-trading-ban-congress-deal).

Sources:

  • Axios
  • University of Maryland (publicconsultation.org/united-states/stock-trading-by-members-of-congress/)
  • Capitol Trades (capitoltrades.com/)
  • TIME (time.com/7280114/donald-trump-2025-interview-transcript/)