By Sam Barron | Wednesday, December 17, 2025
House Democratic leadership plans to introduce a discharge petition next month to force a vote on legislation that would prohibit stock trading by members of Congress, the vice president, the president, and their immediate families.
Representative Seth Magaziner (D-Rhode Island) stated that his initiative has the support of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York). Magaziner expressed confidence that some Republicans would back the petition, noting it is possible for certain members to endorse a bill including the president and vice president—particularly as the fiscal year progresses and more lawmakers approach retirement or primary conclusions.
To trigger a vote, five Republicans must sign the discharge petition if all Democrats support it. Magaziner emphasized this potential alignment, especially later in the fiscal year.
Earlier this month, Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida) filed her own discharge petition to ban stock trading by members of Congress and their immediate families. Luna warned she would seek procedural means if leadership did not accelerate action, stating, “We have decided, because of a lack of movement from the House of Representatives, to initiate the discharge petition to ban insider trading.” The proposal has garnered 15 Republican and 57 Democratic signatures.
Magaziner confirmed his support for both discharge petitions.
