House approves stock-trading restrictions for Congress alongside new voter ID rules

Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) speaks during a hearing with the House Financial Services Subcommittee on “Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence” on Capitol Hill on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.

The House of Representatives has passed legislation restricting congressional stock trading while enacting new federal voter ID requirements, largely backed by Republican lawmakers.

On Wednesday afternoon, the House passed the Stop Insider Trading Act by a 232-198 vote, which included 13 Democrats and all GOP house members, after months of debate.

The Stop Insider Trading Act, which was introduced by Representative Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) in January, would prohibit lawmakers and their families from purchasing publicly traded stocks. It would also mandate members of Congress to publicly report each sale of stocks at least seven days in advance to the House clerk or Senate secretary, according to CBS news.

Additionally, the act penalizes violations with a fine of $2,000 or 10% of the transaction value — whichever is higher — plus the forfeiture of any realized profits.

 

“This measure ensures that lawmakers cannot use their position to profit from insider information gathered while serving in Congress,” Steil said on Monday.

Republicans also paired the stock trading restriction with an unrelated provision mandating photo ID for federal elections, aligning with President Donald Trump’s push for stricter voter-eligibility rules.

 

Representative Zach Nunn, (R-Iowa), a leading proponent of banning lawmakers from trading stocks, argued that combining the two measures makes sense given their widespread public support.

“The overwhelming majority of Americans want this,” Nunn told Fox News, adding that it could quickly reach the president’s desk. “Only in Washington can you have two wins for 90% of Americans, and Democrats will say that’s one win too many.”

I was so shocked when I learned how well the Pelosi Tracker has done that I felt compelled to share it with my colleagues on the floor today.

Not to go after your business model… but my goal is to make sure NOBODY can take advantage of the non-public info Members of Congress… https://t.co/RA8FfTJZwV

 — Zach Nunn (@NunnForCongress) July 22, 2026

However, Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) called out his own party for pairing the stock trading ban with the voter ID rule, arguing the move was meant to force Democrats into a tough political vote rather than actually pass voter ID.

“We are voting on a stock trading ban for members of Congress… BUT Republicans added voter-ID in the legislation. Not to get Dems to vote for voter-ID, but to get them to vote against the stock trading ban, so they can use it in the Nov. election,” Massie wrote on X. “If we really wanted to ban stock trading for members of Congress, we would offer stand alone legislation and could get a large bipartisan majority, and the bill would have a chance of passing on the Senate.”

Congress is not serious.

We are voting on a stock trading ban for members of Congress…

BUT Republicans added voter-ID in the legislation.

Not to get Dems to vote for voter-ID,

but to get them to vote against the stock trading ban, so they can use it in the Nov. election.

 — Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 22, 2026