July 20, 2026
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National Taxpayers Union, the nation’s oldest taxpayer advocacy organization, urges all members to vote “YES” on H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act. Introduced by Rep. Bryan Steil, this practical legislation prohibits members of Congress from purchasing new individual stocks. This ethics reform is a much-needed step toward restoring public trust in government.
Few issues spark as much public outrage as the perception that members of Congress use their privileged access to information to further their own financial interests. It’s only reasonable for Americans to expect their elected officials to be guided by the public interest rather than their personal brokerage accounts.
This legislation takes a prudent, targeted approach that focuses on preventing opportunities to profit off of sensitive information acquired while on the job. This bill prohibits members of Congress, their spouses, and dependents from purchasing new individual stocks while in office. Lawmakers and other covered persons are also required to file a public notice at least seven days before selling any individual stock.
Importantly, this legislation allows members of Congress to keep investing in widely held, diversified investment vehicles such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These pooled investments do not trigger the same conflicts of interest as bets on specific companies. As such, this legislation strikes the right balance, tackling real conflicts of interest while keeping Congress open to entrepreneurs and everyday Americans who bring practical experience to public service.
Roll call votes will be included in NTU’s annual rating of Congress and “YES” votes will be considered the pro-taxpayer position.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Policy and Government Affairs Manager Alexander Ciccone at aciccone@ntu.org
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