{"id":11814,"date":"2022-02-07T16:42:51","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T21:42:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/?post_type=press-releases&p=11814"},"modified":"2022-02-07T16:42:52","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T21:42:52","slug":"momentum-continues-to-build-for-sen-ossoffs-congressional-stock-trading-ban-in-congress-nationwide","status":"publish","type":"press-releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ossoff.senate.gov\/es\/press-releases\/momentum-continues-to-build-for-sen-ossoffs-congressional-stock-trading-ban-in-congress-nationwide\/","title":{"rendered":"Momentum Continues to Build for Sen. Ossoff\u2019s Congressional Stock Trading Ban in Congress & Nationwide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Growing list of Senate cosponsors for Sen. Ossoff\u2019s legislation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editorial boards nationwide call on Congress to take action<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington, D.C.<\/strong> \u2013\u2013 U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff\u2019s push to ban Congressional stock trading continues to gain momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, 14 major government reform organizations \u2014 from across the political spectrum \u2014 united to call on Congress<\/a> to swiftly pass Sen. Ossoff and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ)\u2019s Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, <\/em>which will stop all members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading stocks \u2014 ensuring they cannot use inside information to influence their personal stock trades and make a profit off their public office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then last week,\u00a0Insider\u00a0<\/em>reported<\/a>\u00a0that Democratic leadership has \u201ctaken an interest in the issue amid\u00a0growing bipartisan pressure<\/a>”\u00a0and that they \u201chope to vote on a bill this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senators continue to line up behind Sen. Ossoff\u2019s legislation, including key members of Senate leadership: Assistant Democratic Leader Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of Policy and Communications Committee Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Secretary of Conference Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chief Deputy Whip Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Sen. Ossoff\u2019s push is reverberating across the country, with over 3\/4 of Americans<\/a> supporting the move \u2014 including nearly 80 percent of Independents and Republicans \u2014 and over a dozen newspapers penning editorials speaking out in favor of the need to ban Congressional stock trading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMembers of Congress have extraordinary access to privileged information, and we make federal policy,\u201d Sen. Ossoff said.<\/strong> \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t be trading stocks or permitted to trade stocks while we do so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince I took office, I\u2019ve been focused on bringing more accountability and transparency to Congress so this place can actually work for Arizonans. I\u2019m glad our legislation to clean up Washington is gaining momentum and support. I\u2019m going to continue working to ensure that elected leaders are delivering results for the people they represent, not themselves and not special interests,\u201d said Sen. Kelly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople should always come before profits. The Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act<\/em> is an important step to ensure lawmakers are focused on bettering the lives of the people they represent, not bettering their bank accounts,\u201d said Sen. Reverend Warnock.<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m pleased to join Sen. Ossoff and a growing number of my colleagues to increase accountability for elected officials and restore faith in our government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMembers of Congress shouldn\u2019t trade individual stocks \u2013 plain and simple,\u201d said Sen. Heinrich.<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m proud to cosponsor this common-sense legislation that makes sure Congress prioritizes people over personal gain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSimply put, Senators and members of Congress shouldn\u2019t be using insider knowledge to make money in the stock market. Their stock portfolios should not be driving their policymaking, and we need to avoid even the slightest suggestion that this might be the case,\u201d said Sen. Murray.<\/strong> \u201cThe Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act<\/em> is an overdue and commonsense step to provide some much-needed transparency to government and ensure our federal elected officials are focused on serving their constituents \u2014 not lining their own pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe American people need to know that their elected leaders are putting their constituents\u2019 interests \u2014 not their own financial interests \u2014 first,\u201dSen. Gillibrand said.<\/strong> \u201cThat is the job we were sent to Washington to do. And that is why I am proud to be a co-sponsor of the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is an inherent conflict of interest for Members of Congress who have access to information impacting the stock market that is not available to the general public,\u201d said Sen. Stabenow.<\/strong> \u201cLegislators have access to information and create laws that can impact entire industries. These actions can have a significant influence on stock prices. This legislation will prevent potential conflicts of interest and strengthen public trust in our government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe members of Congress should be taking the information they have and trading stocks to enrich themselves while making public policy. It\u2019s our job to serve the people, not ourselves, and I support the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act<\/em> because it will help prevent corruption in Washington,\u201d Sen. Baldwin said. <\/strong>\u201cThis legislation will help ensure that members of Congress are focused on delivering results for the people we work for, and not making decisions that deliver profits to their own bank accounts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editorial Boards and newspapers nationwide are calling on Congress to act and ban members of Congress from trading stocks:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n