New Congressional Bills Aim to Restrict Financial Trading by Members of Congress

The 119th Congress is considering multiple legislative proposals aimed at limiting or prohibiting Members of Congress from owning, buying, or selling certain financial instruments. Proposed bills would require divestment of prohibited assets within a set timeline or mandate the placement of assets into qualified blind trusts. These legislative efforts also seek to create or amend penalties for non-compliance with divestment or disclosure requirements, with some applying to members, spouses, dependent children, and other congressional employees. The Senate has already agreed to a resolution prohibiting Senators, Senate officers, and employees from engaging in prediction market trading.