A Democratic bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 536.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The "Stop Corrupt Trading Act" aims to prohibit the purchase, sale, or exchange of nonpublic information for financial benefit. It defines "covered persons" as the President or Vice President and "covered entities" as those controlled by or in which a covered person has a significant financial interest. The bill prohibits these individuals and entities from selling or exchanging nonpublic information gained through their official positions. It also prohibits other persons from acquiring or exchanging such information for financial gain. To enforce these rules, the bill establishes criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. Additionally, it empowers the Attorney General to pursue civil actions for disgorgement and penalties.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill increases transparency and accountability by targeting the misuse of nonpublic information by high-ranking officials.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Prohibition of information misuse: The bill prevents the President or Vice President, and their associated entities, from selling or exchanging information gained from their official positions for financial benefit (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Criminal accountability: The law establishes specific punishments, including fines of up to double the transaction value and potential imprisonment for up to 5 years, to deter the misuse of nonpublic information (Section 2(b)(1)(A)).
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Financial recovery through forfeiture: The bill requires that any property or proceeds obtained through these illegal acts be forfeited to the United States (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Civil enforcement and penalties: The Attorney General is authorized to bring civil actions to recover profits through disgorgement and to impose civil penalties of up to $250,000 or three times the amount of the gain (Section 2(d)(1)).
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Transparency and Oversight: The Director of the Office of Government Ethics is required to refer credible evidence of misconduct to the Attorney General and notify Congressional Judiciary Committees (Section 2(d)(5)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial liability for third parties: Any person who knowingly provides anything of value in a transaction involving nonpublic information can be held jointly and severally liable for civil remedies (Section 2(d)(4)).
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Significant civil penalties: Individuals or entities found in violation could face high civil penalties, specifically up to $250,000 or three times the amount of the gain or payment made (Section 2(d)(1)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases transparency and accountability by targeting the misuse of nonpublic information by high-ranking officials.
- 8/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/4/2026
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 536.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/3/2026
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island