WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, House Democrats introduced the Restore Trust in Government Act, which would prohibit members of Congress, the president, the vice president, and their immediate families from owning or trading individual stocks. The proposal comes amid growing bipartisan pressure and overwhelming public support for reforms aimed at curbing conflicts of interest and restoring trust in government. In response to the legislation, Virginia Canter, chief counsel and director of ethics and anti corruption at Democracy Defenders Action (DDA), issued the following statement:

“A ban on individual stock ownership by members of Congress would be the most significant anti-corruption and government integrity reform in a generation, and it is supported by an overwhelming majority of the American people. We welcome all legislation that would address the corrosive problem of members of Congress owning and trading stocks in industries they oversee, and we strongly support the push for comprehensive ethics reform in legislation sponsored by Reps. Seth Magaziner, Pramila Jayapal, and Joe Morelle.

“The inclusion of executive branch officials in this proposal is an important step toward confronting conflicts of interest at the highest levels of government. But addressing presidential corruption must not become an excuse for further delay. Congress has a clear path forward. DDA urges lawmakers of both parties to support Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s discharge petition for the Restore Trust in Congress Act and bridge the gap between the two proposals. The public deserves representatives who serve the public interest, not their personal portfolios.”

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Democracy Defenders Action brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country committed to upholding the rule of law, fighting against autocracy and defending the Constitution.