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Fitzpatrick, Ocasio-Cortez, Gaetz and Krishnamoorthi introduce Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act

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Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), alongside Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Congressmen Matt Gaetz (FL-01) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), introduced the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act to prohibit financial investments by members of Congress, their spouses, and any dependents.

“The fact that Members of the Progressive Caucus, the Freedom Caucus, and the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, reflecting the entirety of the political spectrum, can find common ground on key issues like this should send a powerful message to America,” said Fitzpatrick.

“We must move forward on issues that unite us, including our firm belief that trust in government must be restored, and that Members of Congress, including their dependents, must be prohibited from trading in stocks while they are serving in Congress and have access to sensitive, inside information. This is basic common sense and basic Integrity 101. And we all view this as a critical first step to return the House of Representatives back to the People.

“I thank Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Gaetz, and Krishnamoorthi for joining me in this effort.”

Ocasio-Cortez said, “The ability to individually trade stock erodes the public’s trust in government. When Members have access to classified information, we should not be trading in the stock market on it. It’s really that simple.”

“Members of Congress,” Gaetz said, “are spending their time trading futures instead of securing the future of our fellow Americans. We cannot allow the Swamp to prioritize investing in stocks over investing in our country. As long as concerns about insider trading hang over the legislative process, Congress will never regain the trust of the American people. Our responsibility in Congress is to serve the people, not hedge bets on the stock market.”

Emma Lydon, managing director of P Street, the government affairs sister organization of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and Debra Perlin, policy director at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), both said the Act serves to restore public trust and they urged swift passage.

Read the text of the bill >>


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