NO STOCK Resolution
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 491
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-19T08:06:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to enhance ethical standards in Congress by preventing conflicts of interest, specifically by barring members of the House of Representatives from personally owning stocks in public companies. This is intended to ensure that lawmakers' financial decisions do not influence their official duties.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Stock Ownership: Members of the House (including Delegates and Resident Commissioners) are forbidden from owning common stock (shares representing ownership in a company) of any individual public corporation.
- Amendment to House Rules: The resolution adds a new clause (22) to Rule XXIII of the House Rules, known as the "Code of Official Conduct," which outlines ethical guidelines for members.
- Short Title: The resolution is titled the "NO STOCK Resolution" or the "No Option for Stock Trading and Ownership as a Check to Keep congress clean Resolution."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This introduces a new explicit ban on individual stock ownership, which was not previously prohibited under House rules. Prior to this, members could own stocks but were required to disclose them and avoid certain conflicts.
- It redesignates the existing clause 22 as clause 23 to accommodate the new provision, making this a targeted update to the ethical code without altering other rules.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact, though it may indirectly strengthen oversight by the House Committee on Ethics, which enforces the rules.
- On Citizens: Could increase public trust in Congress by reducing perceptions of insider trading or favoritism, potentially leading to greater confidence in legislative decisions.
- On International Relations: No apparent impact, as the rule is internal to U.S. House operations and does not affect foreign policy or global trade.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of the House of Representatives: Directly restricted in their personal investments, requiring divestment of any qualifying stocks.
- Public and Taxpayers: Benefit from enhanced transparency and ethics, as the rule addresses concerns about congressional influence on markets.
- House Committee on Ethics: Gains responsibility for enforcing the new prohibition, potentially increasing its workload.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a House rule rather than a statute, it is enforceable internally by the House but could face challenges if members argue it infringes on personal property rights; however, House rules are generally upheld as matters of self-governance.
- Constitutional: No direct conflict with the Constitution, which allows Congress to set its own ethical standards, but it aligns with broader anti-corruption principles under Article I.
- Political: May spark debate on equity (e.g., why only the House, not the Senate?) and enforcement mechanisms, potentially influencing future bipartisan ethics reforms or campaign issues around transparency.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- 2025-06-09: Submitted in House
- 2025-06-09: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- NO STOCK Resolution — issued 2025-06-09 — PDF (2 pages)