House passes stock-trading restriction bill, Senate doubts

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on July 22, 2026, to impose new restrictions on stock trading by members of Congress, but the legislation faces significant hurdles in the Senate after Republicans attached unrelated voter identification requirements. The vote on the "Stop Insider Trading Act" was 232-198, with only 13 Democrats joining Republicans in support.

The bill would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing publicly traded stocks while in office. It would also require lawmakers to file a public notice at least seven days in advance of any stock sales. However, the legislation does not require divestment of existing holdings, a key point of contention for many Democrats and ethics advocates who argue it fails to address conflicts of interest from stock ownership.

Republican leadership, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, framed the bill as a necessary step to restore public trust, citing concerns that lawmakers have profited from their positions. Johnson stated that the legislation delivers real solutions to restore faith in institutions.

Democratic opposition was substantial, with many arguing the bill is...