The record · Topic 14 of 15

Stopping members of Congress from trading individual stocks

How much do people want it

76% Republicans 78% · Democrats 75% Ranks 14th of 15 — the higher the rank, the more Americans agree Polling by the Program for Public Consultation, February 2026

What got approved

Nothing became law. A bill passed the House, bundled with an unrelated subject, and stopped in the Senate.

12 January 2026

1. A stock trading bill was introduced

It would stop members of Congress, their spouses and their children from buying new individual stocks while in office. It does not require anyone to sell what they already own, allows sales with a week or two of notice, and does not cover the President, the Vice President or the Supreme Court.

20–22 July 2026

2. A photo ID bill was put inside it, and the House voted once on both

The combined bill passed 232 to 198. Every Republican who voted voted yes, thirteen Democrats joined them, 198 voted against.

That result cannot tell you what anyone thought about stock trading, because the same vote also answered the photo ID question. See polling qualifications.

During committee consideration, members twice tried to swap in stronger versions — including one that would have covered the President and Vice President. Both attempts were defeated.

Since 23 July 2026

3. It stopped in the Senate

A request to pass it without a vote was objected to. It is not law.

What could have been

A stronger bill exists and has never been given a vote.

While this ranks 14th of 15 for agreement, both parties want it at almost exactly the same rate — Republicans 78%, Democrats 75%. There is very little daylight between them on this.

A separate bill would require members to sell their holdings rather than merely stop buying. It has never been brought to a vote. A petition to force a vote on a similar ban has 84 signatures from both parties, short of the 218 needed.

The other half of the bill that did get a vote is also on this list. See requiring photo ID to vote — same event, same outcome, different topic.

Additional notes

Nothing to report. Where a government department changes a rule affecting this topic, it appears here — never counted as the government getting something done. Why.

Where these came from

Every line above is checkable.

Office of the Clerk, U.S. House — every recorded vote, by member
House Rules Committee — the documents combining bills before a vote
Congress.gov — search the bill number given on this page
Program for Public Consultation — the February 2026 national survey, question 114 on page 30. The exact question wording, the national figure, and the Republican, Democratic and independent numbers.

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