Luna Pushes for House Vote on Member Stock Trading Ban

A New Challenge for House Leadership

Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is preparing to take a bold step in September by attempting to force a House vote on a congressional stock trading ban, creating additional challenges for Speaker Mike Johnson as members return to Washington after their summer recess. The Florida lawmaker announced her intention to file a discharge petition at that time, aiming for a floor vote on legislation crafted by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) that would prohibit members from trading individual securities.

Luna emphasized that the action will occur as soon as lawmakers return to work. Her move comes amid stalled internal discussions on proposals to limit member trading on Capitol Hill, with Republicans divided over the best approach after months of deliberation. Despite this division, the issue is gaining momentum among a bipartisan group of members who believe a stricter policy is necessary to combat corruption.

The House Ethics Committee recently concluded that Rep. Mike Kelly’s wife purchased shares in the steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs after his office became aware of an investigation by the Commerce Department that could lead to tariffs benefiting the company. This happened before the investigation was made public. Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican and senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, now faces scrutiny over these actions.

House Republicans have also raised concerns about Rep. Rob Bresnahan, another Pennsylvania Republican known for frequent stock trading. Bresnahan had previously pledged to support a trading ban during his campaign but has since introduced his own legislation, claiming that someone else manages his portfolio.

A discharge petition enables a majority of the House to bypass the majority party leadership's control over the floor agenda. To force a vote, signatures from 218 House members are required, although successful discharges are rare due to the perceived breach of party loyalty for majority members to sign them.

Luna previously successfully pursued a discharge this year, related to securing proxy voting for parents of newborns. However, she withdrew her push after President Donald Trump intervened. This current effort adds to the politically sensitive challenges Johnson will face when lawmakers return from recess. He is already dealing with a separate discharge petition from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), which would force a vote on a bipartisan bill to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.

A spokesperson for Johnson did not respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of House members, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), has been working to find a way forward on a stock trading ban for months without success. They have struggled to reach a compromise between various competing bills, including Burchett’s legislation and a more comprehensive bipartisan bill proposed by Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.).

Members are currently bound by a 2012 law that prohibits trading based on insider knowledge and requires lawmakers to report their trades. Democrats have used the issue as a political tool against the GOP after disclosures showed that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) purchased stocks during a market dip, only for them to increase in value later.

Pursuing a total ban remains divisive, with many members in both parties concerned about the implications of divesting significant portfolios and potential tax consequences. There are also doubts about whether a bill passed by the House could be enacted by the Senate, where concerns are even more widespread.

Given these sensitivities, leaders of both parties have historically avoided bringing the issue to the House floor, where members would face pressure to support it. Both Johnson and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed skepticism about banning member trades before offering guarded support. Pelosi never allowed legislation to move that would prohibit the practice; so far, neither has Johnson. Luna’s effort aims to bypass leadership and force the issue into the spotlight.