Support Legislation to Ban Stock Trading by Elected Officials

I am writing to urge you to support legislation that would ban elected officials from trading individual stocks. Both H.R. 5106, the Restore Trust in Congress Act, and S. 1498, the HONEST Act, represent critical steps toward restoring public confidence in our government. Members of Congress and the executive branch have privileged access to classified briefings, economic data, and policy discussions that could provide unfair advantages in financial markets. This creates an inherent conflict of interest that undermines the integrity of our democratic institutions. When elected officials can profit from information unavailable to ordinary constituents, it erodes the trust necessary for effective governance. The bipartisan support for these measures reflects widespread public concern about potential insider trading and corruption. H.R. 5106 would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and their children from owning and trading individual stocks while in office. The Senate's HONEST Act goes further by extending this ban to the President and Vice President, recognizing that conflicts of interest exist at all levels of federal leadership. These bills address a fundamental question of fairness. Constituents in your district cannot access the same information that shapes legislative and regulatory decisions. When representatives trade stocks in industries they regulate or companies affected by pending legislation, it creates the appearance of corruption even when no wrongdoing occurs. This perception alone damages public faith in government. I ask that you cosponsor and vote in favor of both H.R. 5106 and S. 1498. Additionally, I encourage you to support amendments that strengthen these measures and close potential loopholes. Elected officials should serve the public interest, not their investment portfolios. Passing comprehensive stock trading bans would demonstrate a commitment to ethical governance and accountability that constituents across the political spectrum demand.