(Washington, D.C.) Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) released the following statement after the House voted 232-198 today to pass the Stop Insider Trading Act , legislation Nunn helped lead to prohibit Members of Congress and their immediate family members from buying individual stocks while serving in office. The vote marks the culmination of a bipartisan effort Nunn championed since his first weeks in Congress.
“I’ve never owned or traded individual stocks while serving in Congress. This isn’t a red or blue issue. Banning stock trades in Congress is about accountability, and every American should demand it from their elected officials,” said Rep. Nunn . “One of the very first bills I introduced when I got to D.C. was to ban Members and their immediate families from trading stocks. Today, the House finally acted on an issue that shouldn’t be partisan. Iowans are tired of the double standard in Washington. Public office is a public trust, and now it’s time for the Senate to finish the job.”
The Stop Insider Trading Act prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing individual stocks while in office. The bill requires advance public notice before Members sell existing holdings, imposes penalties of $2,000 or 10 percent of the transaction value — whichever is greater — for violations, and mandates divestment of any stock purchased in violation of the law. The prohibition takes effect 180 days after enactment.
Rep. Nunn has never owned or traded individual stocks while serving in Congress. Since taking office, he has consistently led bipartisan efforts to restore public confidence by preventing lawmakers from personally profiting from the offices they hold.
Rep. Nunn’s Leadership to Ban Congressional Stock Trading:
February 2023 — Introduced the bipartisan Prohibit Insider Trading Act with Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04), prohibiting Members of Congress and their spouses from trading individual stocks while requiring violators to forfeit profits to the U.S. Treasury and pay fines of up to $50,000.
January 2025 — Reintroduced the ban as a provision in the bipartisan No Corruption in Government Act with Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), pairing the stock trading prohibition with an end to automatic congressional pay raises and a strengthened lobbying ban for former Members.
September 2025 — Co-led the bipartisan Restore Trust in Congress Act with Reps. Chip Roy (TX-21) and Seth Magaziner (RI-02), expanding the prohibition by requiring Members to fully divest from individual stocks and other specified investments, with limited exceptions.
December 2025 — Signed a discharge petition to force a House vote on congressional stock trading legislation after more than a decade of congressional inaction.
January 2026 — Joined House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01) in introducing the Stop Insider Trading Act , which passed out of committee expeditiously.
Wednesday’s House passage represents the first time a full chamber of Congress has voted to ban lawmaker stock trading. The Stop Insider Trading Act now heads to the Senate for consideration.
