Discharge Petition to Ban Congressional Stock Trading Gains Key Signature from Rep. Elise Stefanik

WASHINGTON D.C. – Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Chair of House Republican Leadership, has officially signed a discharge petition aimed at forcing a vote on legislation to ban members of Congress and their immediate families from trading individual stocks. The move, announced on December 2, 2025, brings the bipartisan effort one signature closer to bypassing House leadership and compelling a floor vote on the measure.

The discharge petition, initiated by Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), seeks to advance the "Restore Trust in Congress Act." This bill would mandate that members of Congress either divest their individual stock holdings or place them into a blind trust, addressing concerns about potential conflicts of interest and insider trading. Stefanik's decision to sign the petition underscores growing pressure within Congress for greater financial transparency.

In a statement, Stefanik emphasized her long-standing ethical stance, saying, "Throughout my entire 11 years in Congress, I have never purchased or traded a single individual stock because I believe it is unethical." She further criticized what she called "corrupt" practices, particularly referencing former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and highlighted the petition as a "bipartisan, commonsense, good governance" initiative.

The action comes amidst broader internal tensions within the House Republican conference, including public disagreements between Stefanik and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) over other legislative priorities. While discharge petitions are rarely successful, requiring 218 signatures to force a vote, this effort reflects a significant push from a segment of Congress to address public concerns about financial ethics. The petition's proponents argue that it is a necessary step to restore public trust in the legislative body.