The PELOSI Act
On April 28th, 2025, the Republican Senator from Missouri, Josh Hawley, reintroduced the PELOSI Act (Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments Act), banning all members of Congress and their spouses from trading individual stocks. It was a rare moment of agreement between the progressive wing of the Democratic party and a far right Conservative, Josh Hawley.
“Members of Congress should be fighting for the people they were elected to serve—not day trading at the expense of their constituents,” stated Senator Hawley.
“Americans have seen politician after politician turn a profit using information not available to the general public. It’s time we ban all members of Congress from trading and holding stocks and restore Americans’ trust in our nation’s legislative body.”
In what could be seen as a compromise, our Congress would be allowed to invest in diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or U.S. Treasury bonds, allowing congress to invest in group investments that would be profitable when there is a healthy stock market across many investments. If the bill passes All members of Congress would have 180 days to comply with these changes, and going forward any official elected would be given 180 days after being elected to divest of individual stocks.
“Members who refuse to comply with the PELOSI Act must forfeit any stock profits to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and face monetary penalties imposed by the House and Senate ethics committees.” 🔗 [read more]
What this act would prohibit:
💸 Covered Financial Instruments (monetary contracts). Any investment in:
Securities: a broad term used for stocks, bonds, notes and their many sub-types
Security Futures: contracts that lock in a price for something they intend to purchase in the future.
Commodities: raw materials like rare earth minerals, energy, livestock, etc.
Other comparable economic instruments and their derivatives: like options, an agreement to sell a stock in the future at a set price.
This bill would require all members of Congress to submit a certification to the ethics committee that they are in compliance with these terms annually which the ethics committee would then publish publicly on a website. If they are not compliant with this Act, not only would they forfeit the profits, but they could be fined. Before being fined, the ethics committee will provide a notice for each covered financial instrument that will be assessed, allowing members of Congress to apply for a hearing or an extension if they can provide proof of a reasonable attempt to divest themselves of the stock.
A penalty will be imposed 30 days after the notice if a member of Congress continues to not comply and every 30 days after. The penalty will be 10% of the value of each financial instrument. Then, the ethics committee will publish on the public website a description of each fine, why each fine was issued, and the result of any hearings on the matter. The Act also allows members to appeal any assessment to a vote on the House floor or Senate.
Two years after the enactment of the PELOSI Act, the Comptroller General would be required to conduct an “audit of compliance” of the members of Congress. They would then be expected to turn over the results of the audit to the Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog nonpartisan government agency within the legislative branch, with the authority to audit, issue legal decisions, and investigate illegal activities. 🔗 [read more]
“Hawley introduced the "PELOSI Act" in 2023, but failed to make progress in the previous Congress and Administration. The proposal has since gained popularity among lawmakers on both sides of the aisle” 🔗 [read more]
In an interview with Time Magazine, when asked if he would support a bill banning congressional trading, President Trump said he would “absolutely” sign it. Stating “Well, I watched Nancy Pelosi get rich through insider information, and I would be okay with it. If they send that to me, I would do it.” 🔗 [read more]
While Nancy Pelosi has grown very wealthy over the years through investments largely attributed to her husband, she is not the only member of congress suspected to have traded stocks based on information not available to the public. This is a rare issue that members of both parties can agree on, and it is a problem on both sides of the aisle. Most recently representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was accused of buying on the dip in the market caused by Trump imposed Tariffs.
What can you do?
✅ 1. Contact Your Elected Officials
Call, email, or write your U.S. Senators and Representatives. You can find your representatives and their contact info here: https://www.congress.gov/members
📝 2. Sign a Petition
Check platforms like Change.org to sign or start a petition.
📢 3. Spread the Word
Post on social media with facts about the bill and why it's important. Tag your Representatives.
🗳️ 4. Ask Candidates Where They Stand
If your Representatives are up for re-election, ask them publicly or at town halls:
“Do you support banning members of Congress from trading stocks? Will you vote for the PELOSI Act?”
We here at Accountable Vote do not care if you’re a Republican or a Democratic Representative, we believe you have a duty to legislate in the best interest of your constituents, not your portfolio. 🔗 [read more]