Ending Corruption
As the Trump Administration engages in an unprecedented level of brazen corruption, Congressman Neguse has organized a group of next-generation lawmakers to confront political corruption and clean up government. The legislative agenda — entitled End Corruption Now — includes seven bills that put power back in the hands of the American people and prevent government officials from personally benefiting from their official offices.
The End Corruption Now legislative agenda targets conflicts of interest and would put a stop to the selling of access and influence, including banning Members of Congress from trading stocks or becoming lobbyists, and strengthening anti-corruption laws.
It includes the following bills:
- The Close the Revolving Door Act, introduced by Reps. Joe Neguse and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, places a lifetime ban on Members of Congress from serving as lobbyists. The bill is championed in the U.S. Senate by Senator Michael Bennet. Read the bill text HERE.
- The Restoring Integrity in Democracy Resolution, introduced by Rep. Angie Craig, would prohibit Members of Congress from serving on corporate boards. Read the bill text HERE.
- The Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust (TRUST) in Congress Act, introduced by Rep. Seth Magaziner, effectively bans Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading individual stocks by requiring them to either divest from individual stock holdings or move their investments into a qualified blind trust during their entire tenure in Congress. Read the bill text HERE.
- The No Corporate Crooks Act, introduced by Rep. Chris DeLuzio, prohibits any chief executive officers, in either the public or private sector, convicted of covered financial crimes from serving in the executive branch. Read the bill text HERE.
- The Stop Millionaires Using Service for Kickbacks Act, introduced by Rep. Pat Ryan, requires government employees defined as Executive Schedule (I-IV) employees, Special Government Employees, and people in the Executive Office of the President to recuse themselves from any matters affecting the financial interests of their previous employers for the four-year period. Read the bill text HERE.
- The Integrity in Government (IG) Act, introduced by Rep. Hillary Scholten, strengthens checks and balances by installing new oversight measures for the White House and its top offices and protecting independent watchdogs from political retaliation. Read the bill text HERE.
- The Closing Bribery Loopholes Act, introduced by Rep. Emilia Sykes, closes loopholes in the federal bribery statute by clarifying the definition of an “official act” by a public official. The bill expands the definition to prohibit public officials from improperly using their position for private gain. Read the bill text HERE.
The End Corruption Now agenda is endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Public Citizen, and Project On Government Oversight (POGO).
Overturn Citizens United: Introducing the Citizens Over Corporations Amendment
In tandem with the End Corruption Now legislative package, Congressman Joe Neguse is the lead House author and sponsor of a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would overturn Citizens United v. FEC, —Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) leads the companion measure in the U.S. Senate. The measure, dubbed the “Citizens Over Corporations Amendment,” would ensure Congress and states can set reasonable limitations on political spending and eliminate “dark money” in our electoral system.
Congressman Neguse has been a vocal proponent of fixing America’s broken campaign finance system since first being elected to Congress in 2018, consistently supporting legislation, like Congressional Democrats’ For The People Act.
The Citizens Over Corporations Amendment will:
- Make clear the Constitution does not restrict the ability of Congress or states to set reasonable, viewpoint-neutral limitations on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections
- Distinguishes between natural persons, corporations, or other artificial entities, including by allowing Congress and the states to prohibit such entities from spending money to influence elections
- Allow public financing of campaigns when states choose to enact such laws, which can restrict the influence of corporate or private wealth
- Take further steps to protect the freedom of the press in the case of future campaign finance-related legislation. =
Learn more about the legislation HERE.
A fact sheet on the legislation can be found HERE.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
Ban Stock Trading in Congress
Recent polling shows that 67% of Americans support banning Members of Congress from holding individual stocks.
For years, Congressman Neguse has led efforts to hold Members of Congress accountable and prohibit them from abusing their positions for personal financial gain — including introducing the first landmark legislation several years ago to ban Members of Congress from holding or trading stocks.
Rep. Neguse is currently a leader on the Restore Trust in Congress Act, a comprehensive bipartisan bill that would prohibit Members of Congress, their spouses, dependent children, and trustees from owning, buying, or selling individual stocks, securities, commodities, futures, and other comparable assets.
Additionally, one of the bills in his End Corruption Now legislative agenda is the Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust (TRUST) in Congress Act, which effectively bans Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading individual stocks by requiring them to either divest from individual stock holdings or move their investments into a qualified blind trust during their entire tenure in Congress.
Earlier this year, following reports members of the U.S. House close to President Trump profited off stock trading during the window in which the administration plunged the country into a reckless trade war, the Colorado Congressman penned a letter to Speaker Johnson requesting that he call on every member of the House of Representatives to immediately file and release their Periodic Trading Reports (PTR).
Neguse doubled down on these calls for transparency when questioning FBI Director Patel about investments he made on the stock market during his time working for the Trump administration.
He remains committed to confronting political corruption, cleaning up government, and putting power back in the hands of the American people by preventing the President, Executive Branch officials, and Members of Congress from personally benefiting from their offices.
Discover more on his efforts below: