Legis Daily

Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act

USA119th CongressHR-1599| House 
| Updated: 2/26/2025
Michael Cloud

Michael Cloud

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (4)
Jared F. Golden (Democratic)Keith Self (Republican)Kat Cammack (Republican)Josh Brecheen (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill aims to prevent conflicts of interest by prohibiting senior federal employees, their spouses, and dependent children from holding, purchasing, or selling certain financial instruments during the employee's term of service. The legislation defines "covered financial instruments" broadly to include investments in securities, security futures, and commodities, as well as comparable economic interests acquired through synthetic means like derivatives. However, it explicitly excludes diversified mutual funds, diversified exchange-traded funds, United States Treasury bills, notes, or bonds, and compensation from a spouse or dependent child's primary occupation. Exceptions to this prohibition include a 180-day period for divestiture after the bill's enactment or commencement of service, allowing time for compliance. Holdings within a qualified blind trust are also exempt, providing a mechanism for managing assets without direct control. Additionally, certain instruments exempted under existing conflict of interest regulations are excluded from the ban. Violations of these prohibitions carry significant penalties, including the disgorgement of any profits from illicit transactions to the Treasury and the inability to deduct associated losses from income tax. Senior federal employees may also face civil fines assessed by their supervising ethics office , which can be up to $1,000 or 10% of the instrument's greatest value. Each employee must annually certify compliance, and the ethics office will publish these certifications and details of any assessed fines publicly, with a Government Accountability Office audit mandated within two years of enactment to ensure effectiveness.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8754
Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-310
Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 26, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8754
    Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-310
    Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act


  • February 26, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 26, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 117-8754: Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act
Commodities marketsFamily relationshipsFederal officialsFinancial services and investmentsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionSecurities

Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act

USA119th CongressHR-1599| House 
| Updated: 2/26/2025
This bill aims to prevent conflicts of interest by prohibiting senior federal employees, their spouses, and dependent children from holding, purchasing, or selling certain financial instruments during the employee's term of service. The legislation defines "covered financial instruments" broadly to include investments in securities, security futures, and commodities, as well as comparable economic interests acquired through synthetic means like derivatives. However, it explicitly excludes diversified mutual funds, diversified exchange-traded funds, United States Treasury bills, notes, or bonds, and compensation from a spouse or dependent child's primary occupation. Exceptions to this prohibition include a 180-day period for divestiture after the bill's enactment or commencement of service, allowing time for compliance. Holdings within a qualified blind trust are also exempt, providing a mechanism for managing assets without direct control. Additionally, certain instruments exempted under existing conflict of interest regulations are excluded from the ban. Violations of these prohibitions carry significant penalties, including the disgorgement of any profits from illicit transactions to the Treasury and the inability to deduct associated losses from income tax. Senior federal employees may also face civil fines assessed by their supervising ethics office , which can be up to $1,000 or 10% of the instrument's greatest value. Each employee must annually certify compliance, and the ethics office will publish these certifications and details of any assessed fines publicly, with a Government Accountability Office audit mandated within two years of enactment to ensure effectiveness.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8754
Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-310
Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 26, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8754
    Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-310
    Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act


  • February 26, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 26, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Michael Cloud

Michael Cloud

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (4)
Jared F. Golden (Democratic)Keith Self (Republican)Kat Cammack (Republican)Josh Brecheen (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 117-8754: Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Commodities marketsFamily relationshipsFederal officialsFinancial services and investmentsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionSecurities