Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB2678

Introduced
4/18/23  

Caption

Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act

Impact

The bill amends existing legislation by introducing new requirements for Members of Congress regarding their financial investments. Upon enactment, Members will be obligated to certify that they have divested or placed their investments in qualified blind trusts to ensure transparency and accountability. This change is expected to directly affect the financial dealings of Congress members, fostering a more transparent environment and potentially reducing insider trading allegations.

Summary

House Bill 2678, titled the 'Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act,' aims to prohibit Members of Congress, along with their spouses and dependent children, from trading and owning stocks. The bill seeks to enhance the ethical standards governing financial practices within the legislative branch to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain public trust. The legislation stipulates that such covered investments must be placed in qualified blind trusts or divested within specified timeframes to avoid any personal gain from legislative actions related to the stock market.

Contention

Despite the bill's intention to improve ethical standards, there is debate surrounding its implications. Supporters argue that it serves as a necessary step towards ensuring integrity within Congress, while detractors may express concerns about the practical enforcement of such regulations. Questions have been raised about how effectively the bill can prevent unethical behavior and whether it might impose undue restrictions on the financial freedoms of lawmakers. Additionally, the provisions regarding divestiture timelines and the establishment of blind trusts could be points of contention in legislative discussions.

Companion Bills

US SB1171

Same As Ending Trading and Holdings In Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act

Previously Filed As

US SB1171

Ending Trading and Holdings In Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act

US HB4890

Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act

US SB2773

Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act

US HB1908

End Congressional Stock Trading Act

US HB1679

Bipartisan Ban on Congressional Stock Ownership Act of 2023

US SB1879

Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act

US HB5109

DITCH Act Dump Investments in Troublesome Communist Holdings Act

US HB389

Preventing Opportunistic Returns on Trades and Futures by Officials, Leadership, and Individuals in Office Act or the PORTFOLIO Act This bill generally prohibits federal employees and officials from owning or trading in synthetic assets (i.e., tokenized derivatives). It also establishes financial disclosure requirements with respect to cryptocurrency. Specifically, the bill prohibits federal employees, Members of Congress, the President, and Vice President from owning or trading investments in a security, a commodity, a future, cryptocurrency, or any comparable economic interest acquired through synthetic means, such as through a derivative. Such investments must be divested through gift or donation, cashing out, or a qualified blind trust. The appropriate ethics office may grant temporary exemptions in certain situations, such as for preexisting complex financial arrangements from which investments cannot be withdrawn, and may assess fees for violations. The Department of Justice may also bring civil actions for violations. The bill also (1) incorporates cryptocurrency and other digital assets into current financial disclosure requirements; (2) modifies the categories and timelines for financial disclosures; and (3) requires agencies, ethics offices, and the Department of Justice to regularly report on violations of this bill and other related requirements.

US HB5188

Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2023

US HB310

Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act This bill prohibits a senior federal employee, his or her spouse, or dependent children from holding, purchasing, or selling certain financial instruments during the employee's term of service. Any profit made in violation of the prohibition must be disgorged to the Treasury and may subject the individual to a civil fine. The bill also requires the submission of an annual certification of compliance and requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a compliance audit. A loss from a transaction or holding involving a covered financial instrument that is conducted in violation of this bill may not be deducted from the amount of income tax owed by the applicable senior federal employee, spouse, or dependent child. A senior federal employee who holds or conducts a transaction involving a covered financial instrument in violation of this bill may be subject to a civil fine assessed by the supervising ethics office.

Similar Bills

US SB1171

Ending Trading and Holdings In Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act

US SB2773

Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act

US HB1463

Restoring Trust in Public Servants Act

US HB3556

Increasing Financial Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act

US HB3003

Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act

US HB3555

Banking Regulator Accountability Act

US HB389

Preventing Opportunistic Returns on Trades and Futures by Officials, Leadership, and Individuals in Office Act or the PORTFOLIO Act This bill generally prohibits federal employees and officials from owning or trading in synthetic assets (i.e., tokenized derivatives). It also establishes financial disclosure requirements with respect to cryptocurrency. Specifically, the bill prohibits federal employees, Members of Congress, the President, and Vice President from owning or trading investments in a security, a commodity, a future, cryptocurrency, or any comparable economic interest acquired through synthetic means, such as through a derivative. Such investments must be divested through gift or donation, cashing out, or a qualified blind trust. The appropriate ethics office may grant temporary exemptions in certain situations, such as for preexisting complex financial arrangements from which investments cannot be withdrawn, and may assess fees for violations. The Department of Justice may also bring civil actions for violations. The bill also (1) incorporates cryptocurrency and other digital assets into current financial disclosure requirements; (2) modifies the categories and timelines for financial disclosures; and (3) requires agencies, ethics offices, and the Department of Justice to regularly report on violations of this bill and other related requirements.

US HB51

Washington, D.C. Admission Act This bill provides for the admission of the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth into the United States. The commonwealth consists of all the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding certain federal property. The excluded property shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of federal government; it includes the principal federal monuments, the White House, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court Building, and the federal office buildings located adjacent to the Mall and Capitol Building. In addition, the bill maintains the federal government's authority over military lands and specified other property and prohibits the commonwealth from taxing federal property except as permitted by Congress. Within 30 days of this bill's enactment, the DC mayor must call for the election of two Senators and one Representative for the commonwealth. The commonwealth shall be admitted into the United States upon a presidential proclamation announcing the results of that election. The bill applies current DC laws to the commonwealth and continues pending judicial proceedings. It also continues certain federal authorities and responsibilities, including regarding employee benefits, agencies, and courts, until the commonwealth certifies that it is prepared to take over those authorities and responsibilities. Further, the bill provides for expedited consideration of a joint resolution to repeal the Twenty-third Amendment to the Constitution (which allows DC citizens to vote in presidential elections). The bill also establishes a commission to advise the President, Congress, and DC and commonwealth leaders on the transition.