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Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act

USA119th CongressHR-4890| House 
| Updated: 8/5/2025
Raja Krishnamoorthi

Raja Krishnamoorthi

Democratic Representative

Illinois

Cosponsors (16)
Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Keith Self (Republican)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)John Joyce (Republican)Michael Cloud (Republican)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Josh Riley (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Seth Magaziner (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Jennifer A. Kiggans (Republican)Mike Levin (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Judiciary Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation aims to prevent Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading or owning individual stocks, commodities, and futures. It immediately prohibits Members from purchasing "covered investments" and restricts their ability to sell existing ones after 90 days, except during an initial divestment window. The bill seeks to eliminate potential conflicts of interest and enhance public trust by establishing strict new financial regulations. For existing holdings, Members must certify that all covered investments owned by themselves or their immediate family will be either divested or placed into a qualified blind trust within 120 days of the bill's effective date. Trustees of these blind trusts must be financial institutions and are required to divest the initial assets placed in the trust within 120 days. Illiquid investments, however, cannot be placed in blind trusts and must be divested when contractually permitted. The bill broadly defines "covered investments" to include securities, commodities, futures, and synthetic equivalents, whether held directly or indirectly. However, it provides key exclusions for diversified mutual funds, diversified exchange-traded funds, U.S. Treasury bonds, government retirement plans, and certain compensation-related securities for spouses. Dependent children are permitted to hold up to $10,000 in covered investments if managed by a legal guardian. After the effective date, no covered person may acquire new covered investments, except for inheritances, which must be addressed within 120 days. The legislation outlines conditions for exempting family trusts and establishes a 90-day cooling-off period after a Member leaves office, during which blind trusts cannot be dissolved, and control over covered investments remains restricted. The bill mandates extensive reporting requirements , compelling ethics offices to publicly disclose certifications, blind trust agreements, and other relevant documentation. Robust enforcement mechanisms include civil penalties for non-compliance, such as failure to divest or place assets in a blind trust, or acquiring prohibited investments, with penalties potentially reaching a Member's monthly pay or 10% of non-compliant investment value. Additionally, the bill amends the existing STOCK Act by imposing a $500 fine for failing to file required transaction reports and mandates electronic, publicly searchable financial disclosure forms for Members and staff. These provisions apply to covered persons starting their first new term of service as a Member of Congress on or after January 31, 2023.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-2678
Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act
Aug 5, 2025
Introduced in House
Aug 5, 2025
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, 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 118-2678
    Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act


  • August 5, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • August 5, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, 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.

Congress

Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act

USA119th CongressHR-4890| House 
| Updated: 8/5/2025
This legislation aims to prevent Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading or owning individual stocks, commodities, and futures. It immediately prohibits Members from purchasing "covered investments" and restricts their ability to sell existing ones after 90 days, except during an initial divestment window. The bill seeks to eliminate potential conflicts of interest and enhance public trust by establishing strict new financial regulations. For existing holdings, Members must certify that all covered investments owned by themselves or their immediate family will be either divested or placed into a qualified blind trust within 120 days of the bill's effective date. Trustees of these blind trusts must be financial institutions and are required to divest the initial assets placed in the trust within 120 days. Illiquid investments, however, cannot be placed in blind trusts and must be divested when contractually permitted. The bill broadly defines "covered investments" to include securities, commodities, futures, and synthetic equivalents, whether held directly or indirectly. However, it provides key exclusions for diversified mutual funds, diversified exchange-traded funds, U.S. Treasury bonds, government retirement plans, and certain compensation-related securities for spouses. Dependent children are permitted to hold up to $10,000 in covered investments if managed by a legal guardian. After the effective date, no covered person may acquire new covered investments, except for inheritances, which must be addressed within 120 days. The legislation outlines conditions for exempting family trusts and establishes a 90-day cooling-off period after a Member leaves office, during which blind trusts cannot be dissolved, and control over covered investments remains restricted. The bill mandates extensive reporting requirements , compelling ethics offices to publicly disclose certifications, blind trust agreements, and other relevant documentation. Robust enforcement mechanisms include civil penalties for non-compliance, such as failure to divest or place assets in a blind trust, or acquiring prohibited investments, with penalties potentially reaching a Member's monthly pay or 10% of non-compliant investment value. Additionally, the bill amends the existing STOCK Act by imposing a $500 fine for failing to file required transaction reports and mandates electronic, publicly searchable financial disclosure forms for Members and staff. These provisions apply to covered persons starting their first new term of service as a Member of Congress on or after January 31, 2023.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-2678
Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act
Aug 5, 2025
Introduced in House
Aug 5, 2025
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, 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 118-2678
    Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act


  • August 5, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • August 5, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, 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.
Raja Krishnamoorthi

Raja Krishnamoorthi

Democratic Representative

Illinois

Cosponsors (16)
Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Keith Self (Republican)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)John Joyce (Republican)Michael Cloud (Republican)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Josh Riley (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Seth Magaziner (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Jennifer A. Kiggans (Republican)Mike Levin (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Judiciary Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Congress

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted