Members of Congress hold enormous power over markets—and many also invest in those same markets. Independent analyses show lawmakers often trade actively and, in some years, outperform the market. One watchdog’s 2023 report documented extensive trading across both parties and drew fresh calls to end the practice altogether. In early 2025, coverage of those data again found members of Congress beat broad indexes overall in 2024, intensifying concerns about conflicts of interest and access to non-public information. That’s why bipartisan bills have been introduced to ban individual-stock trading by members and their families—not mutual funds, just individual stocks that create the conflict.

Rep. Ann Wagner exemplifies why clear rules are needed. Public disclosures compiled by nonpartisan trackers show she is among the wealthier members of the House; OpenSecrets estimated her 2018 net worth at about $11.1 million (ranked 34th that year). Market-watch sites that monitor congressional portfolios also publish ongoing trade and net-worth estimates for Wagner, underscoring how closely the public is watching lawmaker investments. None of that alleges wrongdoing—but it does highlight why voters want a bright-line rule: no trading of individual stocks while writing the laws that move those markets.

Tell Congress: Ban Insider Trading. Members make the rules that move markets—then trade those same stocks. That’s a conflict, period. Add your name to demand a clean ban on congressional stock trading with no loopholes.