S. 1498

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit transactions involving certain financial instruments by Members of Congress.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · April 28, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Hawley · Committee: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

SUBCHAPTER IV—Banning insider trading in Congress

S. 1498

13161. Definitions.

In this subchapter:

The terms and have the meanings given those terms in section 13101. dependent child Member of Congress
The term means, as applicable— supervising ethics committee

13162. Prohibition on certain transactions and holdings involving covered financial instruments.

(a) Prohibition
- Except as provided in subsection (b), a Member of Congress, or any spouse of a Member of Congress, may not, during the term of service of the Member of Congress, hold, purchase, or sell any covered financial instrument.
(b) Exceptions
- The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply to a sale by a Member of Congress, or a spouse of a Member of Congress, that is completed by the date that is—
  - for a Member of Congress serving on the date of enactment of the , 180 days after that date of enactment; and
  - for any Member of Congress who commences service as a Member of Congress after the date of enactment of the , 180 days after the first date of the initial term of service.
(c) Penalties
- (1) Disgorgement
  - A Member of Congress shall disgorge to the Treasury of the United States any profit from a transaction or holding involving a covered financial instrument that is conducted in violation of this section.
- (2) Fines
  - A Member of Congress who holds or conducts a transaction involving, or whose spouse holds or conducts a transaction involving, a covered financial instrument in violation of this section may be subject to a civil fine assessed by the applicable supervising ethics committee under section 13164.

13163. Certification of compliance.

(a) In general
- Not less frequently than annually, each Member of Congress shall submit to the applicable supervising ethics committee a written certification that the Member of Congress has achieved compliance with the requirements of this subchapter.
(b) Publication
- The supervising ethics committees shall publish each certification submitted under subsection (a) on a publicly available website.

13164. Authority of supervising ethics committees.

(a) In general
- The supervising ethics committees may implement and enforce the requirements of this subchapter, including by—
  - issuing—
    - for Members of Congress—
      - (i) rules governing that implementation; and
      - (ii) 1 or more reasonable extensions to achieve compliance with this subchapter, if the applicable supervising ethics committee determines that a Member of Congress is making a good faith effort to divest any covered financial instruments; and
    - guidance relating to covered financial instruments;
  - publishing on the internet certifications submitted by Members of Congress under section 13163(a); and
  - assessing civil fines against any Member of Congress who is in violation of this subchapter, subject to subsection (b).
(b) Requirements for civil fines
- (1) In general
  - Before imposing a fine pursuant to this section, the applicable supervising ethics committee shall provide to the applicable Member of Congress—
    - a written notice describing each covered financial instrument transaction for which a fine will be assessed; and
    - an opportunity, with respect to each such covered financial instrument transaction—
      - (i) for a hearing; and
      - (ii) to achieve compliance with the requirements of this subchapter.
- (2) Enforcement
  - (A) In general
    - In the event of continuing noncompliance after issuance of the notice described in paragraph (1), the applicable supervising ethics committee shall impose a civil penalty, in the amount described in subparagraph (B), on the Member of Congress to whom a notice was provided—
      - (i) on the date that is 30 days after the date of provision of the notice; and
      - (ii) during the period in which such noncompliance continues, not less frequently than once every 30 days thereafter.
  - (B) Amount
    - The amount of each civil penalty imposed on a Member of Congress pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be an amount equal to 10 percent of the value of each covered financial instrument that was not divested in violation of this subchapter during the period covered by the penalty.
- (3) Publication
  - Each supervising ethics committee shall publish on a publicly available website a description of—
    - each fine assessed by the supervising ethics committee pursuant to this section;
    - the reasons why each such fine was assessed; and
    - the result of each assessment, including any hearing under paragraph (1)(B)(i) relating to the assessment.
- (4) Appeal
  - A Member of Congress may appeal the assessment of a fine under this section to a vote on the floor of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as applicable, as a privileged motion.

13165. Audit by Government Accountability Office.

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the , the Comptroller General of the United States shall—

conduct an audit of the compliance by Members of Congress with the requirements of this subchapter; and
submit to the supervising ethics committees a report describing the results of the audit conducted under paragraph (1).