Congress Votes to Ban Its Own Stock Trading

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The House of Representatives did something this week it had never done before. On Wednesday, lawmakers passed a bill to stop members of Congress from buying individual stocks while they serve in office.

The measure cleared the chamber on a bipartisan vote of 232 to 198, with 13 Democrats joining every Republican. The bill, called the Stop Insider Trading Act, now heads to the Senate, where its future is far from certain.

A First Vote Decades in the Making

For years, Americans have watched lawmakers post stock gains that seem too good to be true. The worry is simple. Members of Congress often know things the public does not, and some appear to trade on that knowledge. A 2012 law already makes it illegal to trade on inside information, yet its penalties are weak and almost never enforced.

Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin wrote the new bill and called it the first congressional trading ban ever to reach the House floor. It would bar members, their spouses, and their dependent children from buying new individual stocks. Lawmakers would also have to give public notice before they sell. That notice must come 7 to 14 days ahead of a sale, giving voters a clear window to see what their representatives are doing.

The penalties have teeth. A violation would cost $2,000 or 10 percent of the trade’s value, whichever is greater, plus any profit earned. Steil said the reform removes even the appearance that a lawmaker’s trade is based on inside information.

Supporters should be honest about the limits, though. The bill lets members keep the stocks they already own, and critics say that leaves a wide loophole. An earlier effort stalled in 2022, which makes this week’s floor vote a real turning point even so.

Two Reforms in One Bill

House Republicans did not stop at stock trading. They folded in a provision requiring voter ID to cast a ballot in federal elections, joining two priorities in a single package. Under the plan, voters would need a photo ID issued by the government, and the language draws straight from the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. The move answers President Trump’s push to pass the SAVE Act and secure the nation’s elections.

That link matters for anyone who cares about election integrity. Million Voices has covered the fight over proof of citizenship rules and the SAVE Act in states like Minnesota. Clean elections and honest lawmakers rest on the same foundation, which is public trust.

The frustration behind the bill is easy to understand. A December report from the watchdog group Common Cause found members, their spouses, and dependents made 13,324 trades worth about $635 million in 2025 alone. The same report said 86 percent of Americans, across both parties, want the practice banned, and 90 former House members urged Congress to attach a ban to a must pass bill.

The most watched example is a familiar one. Forbes reported that Paul Pelosi, husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, held Broadcom positions that soared in value, part of a family portfolio that has beaten the market for years. A spokesperson said Pelosi owns no stocks herself and had no role in the trades.

An Uphill Climb Ahead

Passing the House was the easy part. The bill now moves to the Senate, where most measures need 60 votes to advance, and Republicans do not hold that many. Steil has urged senators to move quickly and send the bill to the president’s desk, but its path there is unclear.

Democrats were split. Many support a trading ban in general, but the committee’s ranking Democrat, Joe Morelle, called this bill a “sham” because it still lets members own and trade existing stocks. The Congressional Black Caucus argued the combined package pairs weak reform with voter rules it opposes.

Some conservatives want the ban to go further as well. Reformers have pushed rival measures like the Restore Trust in Congress Act, which would force lawmakers to sell their holdings within 90 days rather than simply grandfather them in. Efforts to drag those stronger bills to the floor have so far fallen short of the votes needed. The real debate is not whether to act, but how far to go.

Faithful With What Belongs to Others

Behind the politics lies a question Scripture answered long ago. Leaders are stewards, trusted to handle what belongs to others. Scripture treats money as a test of character, not a reward for power. When leaders use their office for private gain, they break that trust.

Members of the Republican Study Committee framed the vote around a simple truth. They called public office a public trust that must be earned every day. That is not only good government. It is a biblical principle.

“Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much,” Jesus taught, “and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” The same passage warns that no one can serve two masters. “You cannot serve both God and money.” Faithfulness in small things and honesty with power are not partisan values. They are the marks of a leader worth trusting.

The Stop Insider Trading Act is not a finished victory, and it may stall in the Senate. But it forces a question every citizen should ask of their leaders. Are they serving the people who elected them, or serving themselves?

As believers, we are called to pray for our leaders and our nation. Pray for wisdom for those making these decisions, and for safety and dignity for all people affected by them.

That’s where we come in.

Prayer is at the heart of how Million Voices connects faith with civic life. Our Prayer Guide: Pray for Our Government Officials By Name is a free resource designed to help individuals, families, and small groups lift up the men and women who serve in public office—across every level of government and regardless of party.

Rooted in the scriptural call to pray “for kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1–2), the guide offers a thoughtful framework for interceding on behalf of our leaders: for wisdom in their decisions, integrity in their conduct, protection for them and their families, and a heart for serving the common good.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your personal prayer life or to gather others in praying for our nation, this guide is a meaningful place to start. Download it here: https://millionvoices.org/mv-prayer-guide-pray-for-government-officials/

We also offer an opportunity to connect faith with action. Through our Write Now Campaign, volunteers send letters to low-propensity voters in key areas, helping inspire them to engage and make their voices heard.

Ready to take the next step? Learn more or sign up to get involved: https://millionvoices.org/volunteer/

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