Rep. Gabe Vasquez Takes to Capitol Steps to Demand Real Stock Trading Ban Gets a Vote to Crack Down on Corruption

September 1, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 1, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) and U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02), and other Democratic members from across the country made it clear that the stock trading ban battle is far from over in the House, re-upping their demand that Speaker Johnson bring a stronger stock trading ban bill — the Restore Trust in Government Act — up for a vote immediately. Image The Restore Trust in Government Act would prohibit presidents, vice presidents, Members of Congress, and their families and trustees from owning and trading individual stocks. It would also require Members of Congress to divest from all assets covered under the bill within six months of the bill becoming law. During the press conference, Rep. Vasquez and others called out egregious examples of member trading from both sides of the aisle and outlined why the Stop Insider Trading Act , which is currently languishing in the Senate, is a sham bill that does not go far enough to truly clamp down on corruption in Congress. Some of these examples include : Since January 2025 alone, members of Congress have made millions off of insider trading on individual stocks — individual stocks whose values are directly tied to decisions made by Congress. The top five offenders — which included a fair number of Democrats — traded $329.3 million worth of individual stocks this Congress alone. The President: since January 2025, President Trump has traded an estimated $2.5 billion in individual stocks and securities — that’s more than all members of Congress combined. “The American people are sick of the self-enrichment, the wheeling and dealing, and the billions of dollars being harvested in this Administration, as members of Congress and others abuse their power to make themselves wealthier,” said Vasquez in his remarks. “Yet, the hardworking men and women of this country still wake up every single day, make it to their job on time, and do an honest day’s work, often juggling two jobs just to get by in this rigged economy. They scrape by, only to get sick, injured, or fall behind on a car or mortgage payment, before they’re underwater and making choices no Americans should have to make — rationing their medicine, going without healthcare, buying less food, and going bankrupt.” “I personally don’t own or trade individual stocks. I didn’t come to Congress rich. I am lucky to have what I have and I’ve worked damn hard for it. And I find it disgusting that while hardworking families in states like New Mexico are working paycheck to paycheck, members of Congress sit in this building, vote on laws that impact the stock market, and then turn around and trade the very companies and industries that they’re legislating,” added Vasquez . “The people have had enough. If you serve this body or this administration, you should make a choice to use your privilege and power to make Americans lives better, not make yourself wealthier. ” Rep. Vasquez is one of the few members of Congress who does not own or trade individual stocks. This latest push to pass a real stock trading ban for Congress builds on Rep. Vasquez’s long record of working to hold Washington accountable and fight corruption: Championed the TRUST in Congress Act and the Restore Trust in Congress Act to ban stock trading for Members of Congress. Called for a vote on H.R. 1908, the End Congressional Stock Trading Act , a bill introduced by Rep. Luna (R-FL) to ban members, their spouse or dependent children from buying stocks and increasing notice requirements. Cosponsored the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act to ban public officials and federal employees from insider trading on prediction markets. ### Issues : Congress