Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Leads Push to Ban Congressional Stock Trading

Fed up with delays and backroom stalling, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is leading a direct challenge to insider influence in Congress.

On December 2, the Florida Republican filed a discharge petition aimed at forcing a vote on legislation that would ban lawmakers, their spouses, and dependent children from trading individual stocks — a reform House leaders have refused to advance.

“Political games have already started to play out behind the scenes. I’m not waiting any longer,” Luna said. Her petition supports the Restore Trust in Congress Act, which seeks to remove any perception that elected officials are profiting off privileged information.

The bill would prohibit all members of Congress and their immediate family from buying or trading individual stocks, as well as from investing in commodities, futures, and other financial instruments that could pose a conflict of interest — excluding only precious metals. Existing holdings would have to be divested. The legislation allows for investment in diversified mutual or index funds, which Luna and other supporters argue is a reasonable compromise that preserves financial independence without enabling unethical behavior.

Though the 2012 STOCK Act requires lawmakers to report certain trades, it has proven ineffective in eliminating conflicts of interest.

Critics say public trust is undermined when lawmakers have the power to influence markets and simultaneously benefit from trading activities. Polling shows overwhelming bipartisan support among Americans for a total ban on congressional stock trades, yet leadership has dragged its feet for over a year, dodging action and offering no clear path forward. Luna’s petition now puts the pressure squarely on her colleagues to act.

Support for the bill spans party lines — conservative Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Democrat Seth Magaziner (D-RI) are among the original co-sponsors. But resistance remains. Some members of Congress quietly oppose the measure, unwilling to give up the personal financial benefits of trading — even as the public grows increasingly frustrated with politicians appearing to profit from their positions. Luna’s discharge petition is designed to bypass that opposition: if she secures 218 signatures, House rules will compel the bill to be brought to the floor for a vote, sidestepping committees and party leadership.

Luna’s decision to take action follows months of gridlock, including delays caused by the 43-day government shutdown earlier this fall. But with ethics in Congress now back in the spotlight, and public patience wearing thin, her move could force lawmakers to finally take a stand on an issue many would rather ignore.

For Luna, the message is clear: the time for excuses is over, and if the House won’t act willingly, she’s prepared to force the matter.