TRUST in Congress Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 396
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-14: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-23T08:07:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The TRUST in Congress Act aims to increase transparency and reduce potential conflicts of interest by requiring Members of Congress, along with their spouses and dependent children, to place certain personal investments into blind trusts. A blind trust is a financial arrangement where a trustee manages assets without the owner's knowledge of specific holdings, to prevent influencing decisions based on personal financial gain.
Key Provisions
- Timeline for Compliance:
- Current Members of Congress (as of the Act's enactment) must place covered investments into a qualified blind trust within 180 days.
- New Members assuming office after enactment have 90 days to do so.
- Family Assets:
- Spouses and dependent children (defined as children who meet financial dependency criteria under federal law) must also place their covered investments into a blind trust, which can be the same one established by the Member.
- Post-Office Restrictions:
- Blind trusts cannot be dissolved or controlled by the Member, spouse, or dependent child until 180 days after the Member leaves office.
- Certification and Public Reporting:
- House Members certify to the Clerk of the House within 15 days of establishing the trust (or confirm no covered investments exist); Senators certify to the Secretary of the Senate.
- These certifications are publicly posted on official websites.
- Exception:
- Spouses or dependent children are exempt if their primary occupation's compensation comes from a covered investment (e.g., if it's their main job-related holding).
- Definitions:
- Covered Investment: Includes securities (like stocks), commodities (raw materials traded on markets), futures (contracts to buy/sell assets later), or similar interests via derivatives (financial contracts deriving value from other assets). Excludes widely held mutual funds or ETFs (diversified funds available to the public) and U.S. Treasury securities (government debt like bills, notes, or bonds).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This Act introduces a mandatory requirement for blind trusts that goes beyond current ethics rules, which allow but do not require Members to use them for personal assets. Previously, under the Ethics in Government Act (5 U.S.C. § 13104), blind trusts were optional for avoiding conflicts, but this expands enforcement to family members' assets and adds strict timelines, public certifications, and post-office controls not previously specified.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate gain administrative duties to handle and publicize certifications, potentially increasing workload but enhancing oversight without new funding mentioned.
- On Citizens: Builds public trust by limiting Members' ability to trade on non-public information, addressing concerns about insider trading; no direct financial impact on citizens, but could indirectly promote fairer policymaking.
- On International Relations: Minimal to none, as the Act focuses on domestic financial disclosures and does not address foreign assets or dealings.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of Congress: Directly required to comply, facing restrictions on personal investments during and shortly after service.
- Spouses and Dependent Children: Must divest or blind certain assets, potentially disrupting family finances unless exempted.
- Congressional Staff (Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate): Responsible for receiving, verifying, and publishing certifications.
- Ethics Watchdogs and Public: Gain access to public reports, aiding transparency efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing federal ethics laws by mandating blind trusts, with potential civil penalties for non-compliance (though not specified in the bill); relies on definitions from the Ethics in Government Act, ensuring consistency.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the Emoluments Clause (Article I, Section 9, prohibiting federal officeholders from accepting foreign gifts that could influence duties) and broader anti-corruption principles, without raising free speech or property rights issues as it allows exemptions and post-office access.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from over 40 House Members across parties) signals broad support for ethics reform; could reduce perceptions of corruption but may face resistance over family privacy or economic burdens, potentially influencing future elections or lobbying dynamics.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (102)
Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3], Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3] and 52 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-14: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2025-01-14: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust in Congress Act — issued 2025-01-14 — PDF (5 pages)