This bill extends lobbying restrictions for former Congress members from 1 to 3 years for House members and 2 to 6 years for Senators. It prohibits members and spouses from trading stocks while in office, requiring qualified blind trusts for covered investments. Violations trigger profit disgorgement and up to 50,000 dollar fines. The bill also eliminates automatic congressional pay increases.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill extends lobbying restrictions for former Congress members from 1 to 3 years for House members and 2 to 6 years for Senators. It prohibits members and spouses from trading stocks while in office, requiring qualified blind trusts for covered investments. Violations trigger profit disgorgement and up to 50,000 dollar fines. The bill also eliminates automatic congressional pay increases.
Last updated: 1/4/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>No Corruption in Government Act</strong></p><p>This bill lengthens the limitations on former Congress Members' contact with the legislative branch and restricts certain financial transactions by Members and their spouses.</p><p>Specifically, the bill lengthens the cooling off period that prohibits former Members from contacting Members, officers, or employees of the House or Senate on behalf of a third party. During this post-employment waiting period, a former Member may not communicate with the intent to influence the official actions of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives or Senate. The bill lengthens the waiting period from one to three years after a Member of the House leaves office and from two to six years after a Senator leaves office.</p><p>Next, the bill prohibits Members of Congress and their spouses from holding, buying, or selling financial instruments such as stocks, securities futures, and commodities while the Member holds office. However, covered financial instruments may be held in a qualified blind trust. A Member or spouse who violates this provision must disgorge any resulting profits, may not take a related financial loss as an income tax deduction, and may be fined up to $50,000. The supervising ethics office of each chamber must audit Members' compliance with these requirements every two years. </p><p>Additionally, the bill eliminates automatic annual increases to Members' pay beginning in the 120th Congress.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Extends lobbying cooling-off periods: 3 years House, 6 years Senate
Bans stock trading by members and spouses
Requires blind trusts for covered investments
Profit disgorgement and 50,000 dollar fines for violations
Eliminates automatic congressional pay increases
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This comprehensive ethics reform addresses multiple conflict-of-interest concerns. Extended lobbying restrictions reduce the revolving door incentive. Stock trading bans respond to insider trading concerns given members access to market-moving information. Eliminating automatic pay raises requires Congress to vote publicly on its own compensation. The bill represents significant tightening of congressional ethics rules.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Congress
Related Subjects
Commodities markets
Family relationships
Financial services and investments
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Inflation and prices
Members of Congress
Securities
Wages and earnings
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
358, 119th Congress (2025). "No Corruption in Government Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-358
