Regardless of whether we like it or not, Congress members can buy and sell shares.
Yes, federal law prohibits them with the operate of “non -public information from their official positions for personal benefits” and they are obliged to disclose their transactions.
Now you can take a look at whether “internal” information provided in the Washington corridors is used to buy and sell securities. And this is fair.
Hackles were raised when President Donald Trump It was announced on April 9 that “this is a great time to buy shares”, just before the advertising of mutual tariffs. Dow jumped 9.5 percent until the end of the day after the announcement and raises the question that it could operate.
On days after PoliticSpa published a story about trade habits Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-08), a representative of the first year Nepa made 180 °, and in last week introduced the transparency of the national team as part of a uniform ban on trade in shares (Trust)-the resources regarding the ban on trading in shares for Congress members.
Bresnahan, who has committed himself to prohibit such activities, wants to restore public faith that selected officials do not operate the discussion at work.
“Public opinion should never question whether their selected officials serve society or their own portfolio,” said Bresnahan. “I present Trust Act Restoring the honesty that Americans expect and deserve their government. It is the regulations that allow a new level of transparency and is a security to provide Washington for people. “
If it is introduced, HR 3182 He enters into force at the beginning of the 120th Congress in January 2027. To follow his modern regulations, Bresnahan’s representative cooperates with the Ethics Committee to transfer his personal resources into blind trust.
“Members of the Congress should not be able to benefit from the information entrusted to – this is a belief that I meant that before taking office, and this belief has not changed,” Bresnahan continued. “I have never traded my own supplies, but I want to guarantee responsibility to my voters. That’s why I work with the ethics of the house to start the process of adopting blind trust. I want people I represent that I am in Congress to serve them and only them.”
. Trust Act I would do:
- Follow the members and their spouses.
- Requirement that after taking over the office, members and their spouses could not buy or sell financial instruments, including security, future, goods and other comparable economic interests (derivatives, options, orders, etc.)
- The requirement that, after taking over the office, members and their spouses could only buy, store and sell various funds of joint investment, diverse ETFs, investments in a savings plan (TSP) and American treasures.
- Members of the entity who buy or sell the financial instrument during the fine and penalties.
Legislation would not require the members of the Congress and their spouses to sell existing financial instruments; All grandparents are covered by the financial instrument in which the member and their spouse are grandparents. In addition, the regulations would not apply to the financial instruments held in a qualified blind trust.
According to the Gallup survey in 2025, 62 percent of Americans had public actions – directly or indirectly – for example, via a pension account or investment fund.
. Research of the Federal Federal Reserve regarding consumer finance (SCF) reports that only 21 percent of American families have shares directly.
Compare this with the 118th Congress, in which only five percent of senators and representatives did not have action. Of those who have securities, 59% are republican, and 41% are democrats.
In the case of 79%, which may not be known, there are two (2) types of bills that are available to clients of financial advisors to buy securities.
The brokerage account is a commission based on an investment account, which is usually used by a customer who wants to store securities for storing with occasional transactions. He acts as an intermediary between the client and financial markets, facilitated by the brokerage company. Thanks to these accounts, the adviser can from time to time grant investment recommendations (shares, bonds, investment funds), but the client makes final decisions. For this reason, the broker will have to get detailed instructions on the number of shares and time before making any transactions.
Brokerage accounts usually do not require a fee for opening or maintaining the account.
Advisory accounts or accounts are usually used by customers who pay a fee for current lively management instead of commissions for every trade. It seems to be an account used by Bresnahan.
“Rep. Bresnahan does not trade his own supplies, he has a financial advisor such as millions of Americans,” said the spokesman Hannah Pope.
Bresnahan’s advisor performed 52 transactions “Sell” April 7 – on the day on which the history of PoliticSPA appeared – worth about $ 563,000. The largest transactions were sales of Accenture PLC (ACN), advanced micro devices (AMD), Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY), Pfizer (PFE) and Texas Instruments (TXN) worth $ 15 to 50,000.
Bresnahan is not alone. Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-Ind.), One of the richest members of the Congress, made over 320 purchases of shares between mid-January and mid-April, including over 140 in April 7-17. Registration indicates that some of them include Companies that fit into his jurisdiction as a member of the American Committee for Transport and Infrastructure and are from 3.44 to USD 9.45 million.
IN e -Mail a statement to notusShreve spokesman Hannah Benfield He said: “Congresmen Shreve is a financial advisor to conduct transactions. He hired a professional to ensure that transaction reporting for Congress members is compliance with all requirements.”
“It is a case study of a gross example of why Congress members are ridiculous,” he said Dylan Hedtler-GaudetteDirector of government matters in the non -Watchdog group project on government supervision. “We don’t know what he knows and when he knows what he said to his financial advisor.”
Honest Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) He also recited from the same textbook when accused of trading information at the beginning of April, saying Forbes that “she signed a trust agreement to allow my financial advisor to control my investments” and usually states that “they will ask about them”.
Thanks to advisory accounts, the client usually gave the freedom of financial advisor to buy and sell investments on the account, without asking in advance. The adviser or their team has the freedom of trade and investment funds and investment funds without the need for a prior question. The customer pays an advisory fee based on the percentage of assets managed for daily supervision over these accounts.
Just a few days after the start of the 119th Congress, Rep. Seth Magaziner (Dr. I.) introduced Transparent representation of the service and trust in the Congresswho would require a member of the Congress, as well as every spouse or child supporting a member, placing specific investments in qualified blind trust (i.e. agreement in which some financial resources are arranged under the control of someone else to avoid a possible conflict of interests) up to 180 days after their term of office as a member of the Congress.
Both President Trump and the leader of home minorities Hakeen Jeffries (Dn.y.) indicated their public support for such provisions that could revive the prospects of bilateral effort, which has been stuck on the Capitol for years.
On Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-la.) He publicly spoken his support on Wednesday regarding the ban on trading in individual shares.
“I am in favor of this because I do not think that we do not look excessive,” said a Republican from Louisiana on a press conference on Wednesday, when asked about double -sided conversations at home about prohibiting trade in congress actions.
“I think that in the last two weeks we have acquired a larger shoot than in the last two years”, a magazine NPR said. “Apparently we have a sharp growth, and now we have to use it.”
Six members of the Pennsylvania delegation were signed up as co -chips: Rep. Madeline Dean (D-04), Chrissy Houlahan (D-06), Ryan Mackenzie (R-07), Scott Perry (R-10), Summer Lee (D-12) I Chris Deluzio (D-17). Bresnahan was a glaring omission.
Both HR 396 and 3182 currently live in the House on House Administration committee Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.).
