A new bill aimed at curbing potential conflicts of interest in Congress, dubbed the “No Getting Rich in Congress Act” (H.R.7852), is gaining traction in Washington. Introduced on March 5, 2026, the legislation proposes sweeping restrictions on investment trading by members of Congress, their spouses and dependents, alongside a lifetime lobbying ban for former officials and increased transparency requirements. The bill, currently backed by five cosponsors, reflects growing public concern over insider trading and the potential for lawmakers to profit from their positions.
The core of the proposed legislation centers on limiting what are termed “covered investments,” a broad category encompassing digital assets, securities, commodities, and derivatives. Under the bill’s provisions, members of Congress and other “covered individuals” – including the President, Vice President, and major-party candidates – would be largely prohibited from actively trading these assets unless they are held within a qualified blind trust. This means relinquishing control over investment decisions to an independent trustee. Exceptions would be made for investments held by dependents, provided the assets aren’t owned by the covered individual and the trades are part of the spouse’s primary occupation, according to the bill text.
Tightening Restrictions on Congressional Investments
The proposed rules move beyond simply limiting trading activity. The “No Getting Rich in Congress Act” mandates quarterly disclosure of investment activities to a newly designated supervising ethics office, designed to ensure compliance and detect potential violations. This increased scrutiny aims to address concerns that current disclosure requirements are insufficient and often lag behind actual trading activity. The bill’s sponsors argue that greater transparency will help restore public trust in government and prevent lawmakers from using non-public information for personal financial gain.
Violations of these trading restrictions would carry significant penalties. The bill outlines a system where individuals found to have illegally profited from trades would be required to remit those profits to the U.S. Treasury. Fines could be levied, potentially reaching up to three times the value of the covered investment. Crucially, the legislation specifies that these penalties cannot be paid using official allowances or campaign contributions, preventing the use of public funds to offset the consequences of wrongdoing.
Lobbying Restrictions and Spousal Reporting
Beyond investment trading, the bill takes aim at the revolving door between government service and lobbying. A key provision establishes a lifetime ban on former members of Congress and certain appointed officials from lobbying for foreign countries identified as potential adversaries, including China, Russia, and Iran. This measure seeks to prevent former officials from leveraging their connections and knowledge to benefit foreign interests. Violations would be subject to existing penalties under current law.
The legislation likewise extends reporting requirements to the spouses of senior federal officials. Spouses engaged in lobbying activities would be required to register and disclose their advocacy work on a quarterly basis, detailing their clients and the specific issues they are lobbying on. These reports would be publicly accessible, further enhancing transparency. A similar requirement is placed on disclosing any lobbying activities conducted by corporations where a member of Congress or their spouse serves on the board, with exceptions for pre-existing board memberships.
Net Worth and Election Spending in the 11th District
Data compiled by Quiver Quantitative, a platform tracking congressional finances and election data, provides additional context. As of March 22, 2026, Representative Haley M. Stevens (D-MI) is estimated to have a net worth of $235,300, ranking 435th among her peers in Congress. Approximately $52,300 of Stevens’ net worth is held in publicly traded assets, according to Quiver Quantitative’s estimates. You can track Representative Stevens’s net worth on Quiver Quantitative’s website.
In Michigan’s 11th congressional district, which Stevens represents, approximately $5,255,921 has been spent on elections over the past two years. Outside spending by Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs accounts for roughly $14,580 of that total. The race is currently rated as “Solid D” by analysts. More information on the 2026 election in Michigan’s 11th district is available on Quiver Quantitative.
Representative Stevens has also been involved in proposing other legislation recently, including bills related to wastewater treatment projects (H.R.8027), electricity prices (H.R.7926), and educator preparation (H.R.7883). A complete list of Representative Stevens’ proposed bills can be found on Quiver Quantitative.
The “No Getting Rich in Congress Act” represents a significant attempt to address long-standing concerns about ethical conduct in Washington. The bill’s success will depend on its ability to garner bipartisan support and navigate the legislative process. The next key step will be a committee vote on the bill, currently scheduled for April 15, 2026, where amendments and further debate are expected.
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