Ocasio-Cortez, Fitzpatrick, Mills, & Krishnamoorthi Launch Bipartisan Effort to Restore Faith

In an effort to restore trust in government, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brian Fitzpatrick, Cory Mills, and Raja Krishnamoorthi have introduced the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act. This legislation aims to eliminate conflicts of interest by prohibiting members of Congress, as well as their spouses and dependents, from owning or trading individual stocks.

According to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, access to sensitive information by members of Congress should be used to serve the American people, not for personal gain through the stock market. Rep. Fitzpatrick emphasized that the American public deserves leaders committed to accountability and transparency, rather than prioritizing their stock portfolios.

Rep. Mills added that the legislation is crucial in ending the double standard that allows elected officials to profit from practices that would be illegal for ordinary citizens. Similarly, Rep. Krishnamoorthi highlighted the importance of restoring public trust by focusing on constituents’ needs over lawmakers’ financial interests.

The STOCK Act of 2012 aimed to prevent insider trading in Congress but abuses have persisted. Statistics show that a significant number of members of Congress have violated the act, with some trading stocks related to industries under their committee’s oversight. Public demand for change is strong, with the majority of Americans supporting a ban on stock trading by members of Congress and their families.

This bipartisan effort, supported by advocacy groups like Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), highlights the necessity of restoring integrity and transparency in government. The bill’s complete prohibition on Congressional stock ownership underscores the prioritization of the public’s needs above personal financial gain.

With overwhelming bipartisan support and a clear public mandate for accountability, the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act represents a crucial step towards rebuilding trust in democracy. The full text of the bill can be accessed for further details.