Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act
Sponsored By: Representative Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Introduced
Summary
Ban on congressional ownership and trading of individual securities would bar Members of Congress from buying covered investments and sharply limit when and how they can sell. The bill would force Members to divest or put holdings into approved qualified blind trusts, tighten who can serve as trustees, expand public electronic disclosures, and create civil penalties for violations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Public online access to Congress filings
If enacted, financial and trade reports by Members and candidates would be filed electronically and posted online. The site would let the public search, sort, download, and use an API. It would meet federal accessibility rules. These changes would start 18 months after enactment.
$500 fine for late trade reports
If enacted, a $500 civil fine could apply each time a reporting person fails to file or amend a required transaction report. For Members, this would apply when a Member starts a new term on or after January 31, 2023. Ethics offices would set rules within 1 year. Fines would go to the U.S. Treasury.
Congress stock trading ban and divestment
If enacted, Members of Congress would have to stop buying covered investments on the date of enactment. Ninety days after enactment, Members would generally be barred from selling covered investments, except for narrow exceptions and short transition windows. Within 120 days of the effective date, covered assets would need to be sold or placed in a qualified blind trust. Within 60 days, Members would have to certify online that they will comply and that a spouse or dependent child does not hold over $10,000 in covered investments. Diversified mutual funds and ETFs, U.S. Treasuries, some municipal bonds, certain retirement plans, some small businesses, and some Alaska Native stock would stay allowed. Illiquid private-fund interests could not go into blind trusts and would need to be sold within 90 days after a sale is contractually allowed. Spouse and dependent rules would take effect on a later date named in the bill. Short extensions could apply: up to 45 days each (150 days total) for placing assets, and up to 90 days for some trustee sales.
Tighter rules for Congressional blind trusts
If enacted, communications between a covered person and a blind-trust trustee would have to be written, pre-approved, and cannot discuss how funds are invested. Trustees would generally need to be financial institutions; lawyers, CPAs, brokers, and advisers could not serve unless the trustee is a financial institution. Existing trusts could have one limited written communication within 60 days, if filed in advance, to sell initial property or convert assets. A family trust could be exempt only if the covered person did not create, fund, or control it, the grantor is a family member, and the ethics office approves the request.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]
TX • R
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Joyce (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov