Rep. Bryan Steil and House Republicans pass legislation to limit congressional stock trading and implement federal voter ID requirements.
Rep. Bryan Steil and House Republicans successfully advanced a legislative package on Wednesday that would prevent members of Congress from purchasing individual stocks while in office. The bill, titled the Stop Insider Trading Act, passed with a 232-198 vote, receiving support from 13 Democrats. While the measure bars lawmakers, their spouses, and dependent children from buying new stocks, it does not require them to sell existing holdings. It also increases penalties for failing to disclose stock sales. The administration announced that the bill was partially prompted by a push for the SAVE America Act, which seeks to establish national voter-ID and proof of citizenship requirements. Republicans attached the Voter ID Act to the stock trading bill to ensure the measures reach the Senate. However, the move divided the House; many Democrats criticized the package as a "crude combination" of unrelated issues. Critics argued the voter-ID portion could suppress mail-in voting, while others claimed the stock trading ban was too weak because it does not require the executive branch to divest current holdings.