H.R. 7852

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7852 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7852

To require new ethics obligations and restrictions for Members of 
Congress, their spouse, and dependents, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 5, 2026

Ms. Stevens (for herself, Mr. Tran, Ms. Salinas, Mr. Sorensen, Ms. 
Kaptur, and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to 
the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, and 
Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require new ethics obligations and restrictions for Members of 
Congress, their spouse, and dependents, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``No Getting Rich in Congress Act''.

SEC. 2. RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE OF COVERED INVESTMENTS.

(a) Restrictions.--Chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SUBCHAPTER IV--RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE OF COVERED INVESTMENTS

``Sec. 13151. Definitions
``In this subchapter:
``(1) Commodity.--The term `commodity'--
``(A) has the meaning given the term in section 1a 
of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a); and
``(B) does not include a precious metal (as defined 
in section 1027.100 of title 31, Code of Federal 
Regulations).
``(2) Covered individual.--The term `covered individual' 
means any of the following:
``(A) A Member of Congress as defined in section 
13101.
``(B) The President.
``(C) The Vice President.
``(D) A candidate (as defined in section 301 of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 
30101)) for nomination for election or for election to 
the office of President, Vice President, or Senator or 
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner 
to, Congress, beginning on the date the candidate 
designates or redesignates a political committee (as 
required in section 302(e) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
30102(e))), and ending on the earlier of--
``(i) the date the candidate announces the 
suspension of the candidate's campaign for such 
nomination or office;
``(ii) the date the candidate withdraws 
from the election or concedes the election for 
such nomination or office; or
``(iii) the date the oath of office for 
such office is given to the candidate.
``(E) A dependent child (as that term is defined in 
section 13101) or a spouse an individual described in 
subparagraph (A) through (D) of this paragraph.
``(3) Covered investment.--The term `covered investment'--
``(A) means an investment in a digital asset, a 
security, a commodity, a future, or any comparable 
economic interest acquired through synthetic means, 
such as the use of a derivative, including an option, 
warrant, or other similar means; and
``(B) does not include--
``(i) a widely held investment fund that is 
diversified and publicly traded on a national 
or regional stock exchange;
``(ii) a United States Treasury bill, note, 
or bond;
``(iii) a State or municipal government 
bill, note, or bond; or
``(iv) any compensation received by the 
spouse or dependent child of a covered official 
from their employer.
``(4) Digital asset.--The term `digital asset' has the 
meaning given the term in section 6045(g)(3)(D) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 6045(g)(3)(D)).
``(5) Diversified.--The term `diversified', with respect to 
an investment fund, means such fund does not have a stated 
policy of concentrating its investments in any industry, 
business, single country other than the United States, or bonds 
of a single State within the United States except for the State 
in which the Member of Congress resides.
``(6) Future.--The term `future' means a financial contract 
obligating the buyer to purchase an asset or the seller to sell 
an asset, such as a physical commodity or a financial 
investment, at a predetermined future date and price.
``(7) Security.--The term `security' has the meaning given 
the term in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(15 U.S.C. 78c(a)).
``(8) Supervising ethics office.--The term `supervising 
ethics office' has the meaning given that term in section 
13101.
``Sec. 13152. Trade of covered investments
``(a) Conduct.--Except as described in subsection (b), no covered 
individual may, directly or indirectly, buy or sell a covered 
investment, unless such covered investment is located in a qualified 
blind trust.
``(b) Occupational Exception.--A covered individual described in 
section 13151(2)(C) may buy or sell any covered investment if such 
covered investment is not owned by a covered individual and if such 
trade is performed as a function of the primary occupation of the 
spouse or dependent child.
``(c) Disclosure.--A covered individual shall provide information 
or materials on a quarterly basis to the supervising ethics office to 
ensure that the covered individual is in compliance with the provisions 
of this subchapter.
``Sec. 13153. Penalties
``(a) In General.--A violation of the restrictions on trading or 
ownership of covered investments in section 13152 shall be handled as 
follows:
``(1) With respect to a violation by any individual 
described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 
13151(2), at the direction of the supervising ethics office, 
payment into the Treasury in an amount equal to the sum of--
``(A) the profits of any transaction that violates 
the provisions of this subchapter; and
``(B) if determined applicable and appropriate by 
the supervising ethics office, an amount equal to three 
times the value of the covered investment at issue.
``(2) With respect to any individual described in 
subparagraph (D) or (E) of section 13151(2), the Attorney 
General shall assess a civil penalty in an amount equal to the 
sum of--
``(A) the profits of any transaction that violates 
the provisions of this subchapter; and
``(B) if determined applicable and appropriate by 
the Attorney General, an amount equal to three times 
the value of the covered investment at issue.
``(b) Payment Restrictions.--A Member of Congress or candidate may 
not pay any of the penalties under this section by using amounts from 
the following sources:
``(1) The Members' Representational Allowance.
``(2) The Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense 
Account.
``(3) Any contribution (as defined in section 301(8) of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101(8))) 
accepted as a candidate, or any other donation received as 
support for activities of the individual as a holder of Federal 
office.
``(c) Publication.--Each supervising ethics office shall publish on 
a publicly available website a description of--
``(1) each violation of this subchapter as determined by 
the supervising ethics office; and
``(2) the penalty assessed by the supervising ethics office 
with respect to each violation under paragraph (1).''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter 131 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

subchapter iv--restrictions on trade of covered investments

13151. Definitions.
13152. Trade of covered investments.
13153. Penalties.

SEC. 3. LIFETIME BAN ON FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND INDIVIDUALS 
APPOINTED TO ADVICE AND CONSENT POSITIONS FROM LOBBYING 
ON BEHALF OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES OF CONCERN.

Section 207 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``(m) Restrictions Relating to Foreign Countries of Concern.--
``(1) In general.--Any person who is a Member of the House 
of Representatives, a Senator, or was appointed to a position 
by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, and who knowingly, at any point after that person 
leaves office--
``(A) represents a foreign country of concern 
before any officer or employee of the United States 
Government with the intent to influence a decision of 
such officer or employee in carrying out his or her 
official duties, or
``(B) aids or advises a foreign country of concern 
with the intent to influence a decision of any officer 
or employee of the United States Government, in 
carrying out his or her official duties,
shall be punished as provided in section 216 of this title.
``(2) Foreign country of concern defined.--In this 
subsection, the term `foreign country of concern' means the 
People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of 
Korea, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, or 
any other country determined to be a country of concern by the 
Secretary of State.''.

SEC. 4. REGISTRATION OF SPOUSES OF SENIOR FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND 
DISCLOSURES RELATING TO LOBBYING ACTIVITIES.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that spouses of 
high-ranking officials--
(1) are afforded unique privileges of access to numerous 
government officials due to their close personal relationship 
with a high-ranking official;
(2) often have the ability to influence a policy decision 
made by a government official to benefit an individual of their 
choosing, including themselves, or a private entity;
(3) are not covered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, 
creating loopholes ripe for exploitation for nefarious 
purposes, including self-enrichment; and
(4) must be held to a higher level of scrutiny to prevent 
abuse of or the appearance of abuse of their close proximity to 
high-ranking officials.
(b) In General.--
(1) Registration.--
(A) Current officials.--Not later than 45 days 
after the date that guidance is issued under subsection 
(d), a spouse of any individual who is a covered 
Federal official on such date shall register with the 
Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of 
Representatives.
(B) Future officials.--Not later than 45 days after 
the date that an individual begins service as a covered 
Federal official after the date that such guidance is 
issued, the spouse of such official shall register with 
the Secretary and Clerk.
(2) Exemption.--A spouse shall be exempt from this section 
if the spouse has registered, or is registered, with the 
Secretary and the Clerk in accordance with section 4 of the 
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603).
(3) Termination.--An individual who is a spouse of a 
covered Federal official shall not be subject to the 
requirements of this section beginning on the date that is one 
year after--
(A) the date the applicable Federal official is no 
longer a covered Federal official; or
(B) the individual is no longer the spouse of a 
covered Federal official.
(c) Disclosure.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 20 days after the end of 
each 3-month period beginning on the first day of January, 
April, July, and October of each year in which a spouse is 
registered pursuant to subsection (b), the spouse shall 
disclose any covered advocacy activities during such quarterly 
period.
(2) Contents of report.--Each quarterly report filed under 
paragraph (1) shall contain--
(A) the name of the spouse, the name of the client 
which received such covered advocacy activities, and 
any changes or updates to the information provided in 
the initial registration;
(B) for each general issue in which the spouse 
engaged in covered advocacy activities on behalf of the 
client during the quarterly period--
(i) a list of the specific issues upon 
which spouse engaged in covered advocacy 
activities, including, to the maximum extent 
practicable, a list of bill numbers and 
references to specific executive branch 
actions;
(ii) a statement to the Houses of Congress 
and the Federal agencies contacted by spouse on 
behalf of the client; and
(iii) a description of the interest, if 
any, of any foreign entity in such covered 
advocacy activities;
(C) an estimate of any such expenses incurred in 
connection with covered advocacy activities during the 
quarterly period; and
(D) for each client, immediately after listing the 
client, an identification of whether the client--
(i) had an interest before a covered 
executive branch official (as that term is 
defined in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602));
(ii) had an interest before a covered 
legislative branch official (as that term is 
defined in such section 3); and
(iii) if the registrant is a spouse of a 
Member of Congress, if such client has 
operations within the congressional district 
represented by such Member.
(3) Electronic filing required.--A report required to be 
filed under this section shall be filed in electronic form, in 
addition to any other form that the Secretary of the Senate or 
the Clerk of the House of Representatives may require.
(4) Public disclosure.--The Secretary or the Clerk shall 
make available for public inspection and copying at reasonable 
times the registrations and reports filed under this section 
and make such report available for public inspection over the 
internet as soon as practicable after the report is filed.
(d) Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of 
the House of Representatives shall issue guidance on the implementation 
of this section. Such guidance shall provide for the following:
(1) Guidance and assistance on the registration and 
reporting requirements of this section and common standards, 
rules, and procedures for compliance with this section.
(2) Relevant administrative procedures to allow electronic 
filing of any registration or reporting required under this 
section and public disclosure of such electronic filings.
(3) Procedures for--
(A) reviewing and verifying the accuracy, 
completeness, and timeliness of registration and 
reports;
(B) notifying (in writing) any spouse of a covered 
Federal official that the spouse may be in 
noncompliance with this section; and
(C) notifying the United States Attorney for the 
District of Columbia that a spouse may be in 
noncompliance with this section if the spouse has been 
notified under subparagraph (B) and has failed to 
provide an appropriate response within the 60-day 
period after such notice.
(4) Any other requirements necessary to carry out this 
section.
(e) Penalties.--
(1) Civil penalty.--Whoever knowingly fails to--
(A) remedy a defective registration within 60 days 
after notice of notice of such a defect by the 
Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of 
Representatives; or
(B) comply with any other provision of this 
section;
shall, upon proof of such knowing violation by a preponderance 
of the evidence, be subject to a civil fine of not more than 
$200,000, depending on the extent and gravity of the violation.
(2) Criminal penalty.--Whoever knowingly and corruptly 
fails to comply with any provision of this section shall be 
imprisoned for not more than 5 years or fined under title 18, 
United States Code, or both.
(f) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``covered advocacy activity'' means any 
support provided to or work on behalf of a client for the 
preferred outcome of a client, including legislative or 
executive branch actions, which is done outside of reasonable 
advocacy work, such as--
(A) any utilization of contacts made available due 
to the service of the covered Federal official;
(B) any support provided to or work on behalf of a 
client completed by the spouse over 2 or more quarterly 
periods; and
(C) any activity that qualifies as a lobbying 
contact (as that term is defined in section 3 of the 
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602)); and
(2) the term ``covered Federal official'' means a--
(A) a Senator or a Representative in, or Delegate 
or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress; and
(B) any individual occupying a position in the 
Federal Government for which appointment is required to 
be made by the President, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate.

SEC. 5. PROHIBITION WITH RESPECT TO SERVING ON CORPORATE BOARDS FOR 
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OR SPOUSES OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided under subsection (b), a Member 
of Congress or the spouse of a Member of Congress may not serve as an 
officer or member of any board of any for-profit association, 
corporation, or other similar for-profit entity.
(b) Exception.--
(1) In general.--If the spouse of a Member of Congress 
serves as an officer or member of any board of an entity 
described in subsection (a) prior to the date of the enactment 
of this Act or prior to the date that the individual's spouse 
began serving as a Member of Congress, the spouse--
(A) may serve out the reminder of the duration of 
the board term held as of the date of the enactment of 
this Act, which may include as an officer of such 
board;
(B) may not seek an officer position during the 
term described in subparagraph (A); and
(C) may not serve out an additional board term, 
including as an officer, after the conclusion of the 
term described in subparagraph (A) for as long as their 
respective spouse serves as a Member of Congress.
(2) Disclosure requirements.--
(A) In general.--If the spouse of a Member of 
Congress continues to serve on a board pursuant to 
paragraph (1), the spouse shall submit a report to the 
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of 
Representatives disclosing such service not later than 
20 days after the end of the quarterly period beginning 
on the first day of January, April, July, and October 
of each year.
(B) Report.--The report required under subparagraph 
(A) shall include the following:
(i) The details of the individual's service 
as an officer or member of any board of any 
for-profit association, corporation, or other 
entity.
(ii) A description of any lobbying activity 
carried out by the for-profit association, 
corporation, or other entity during that 
quarter, and if the spouse engaged in such 
activity.
(C) Public disclosure.--The Secretary of the Senate 
or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as the 
case may be, shall publicly disclose on their 
electronic website in a timely fashion any such report 
filed under subparagraph (A).
(c) Member of Congress Defined.--In this section, the term ``Member 
of Congress'' means a Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or 
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.

SEC. 6. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO GIFTS RECEIVED BY 
SPOUSE OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

(a) Requirements With Respect to House of Representatives.--Clause 
5 of rule XXV of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended--
(1) in paragraph (c)--
(A) in subparagraph (1)(A), by inserting ``, 
including a covered relative,'' after ``or employee of 
the House'';
(B) in subparagraph (2), by inserting ``, including 
a covered relative,'' after ``or employee of the 
House''; and
(C) in subparagraph (3), by inserting ``, including 
a covered relative,'' after ``or employee of the 
House'';
(2) in paragraph (d), by inserting ``, including a covered 
relative,'' after ``or employee of the House'';
(3) in paragraph (e)--
(A) in subparagraph (1), by inserting ``, including 
a covered relative,'' after ``or employee of the 
House'';
(B) in subparagraph (2), by inserting ``, including 
a covered relative,'' after ``or employee of the 
House'';
(C) in subparagraph (3), by inserting ``, including 
a covered relative,'' after ``or employee of the 
House''; and
(D) in subparagraph (4), by inserting ``, including 
a covered relative,'' after ``or employees of the 
House'';
(4) in paragraph (f)--
(A) in subparagraph (1), by inserting ``, including 
a covered relative,'' after ``or employee of the 
House'';
(B) in subparagraph (2), by inserting ``, including 
a covered relative,'' after ``Resident Commissioner, 
officer, or employee''; and
(C) in subparagraph (2)(C), by inserting ``, 
including a covered relative,'' after ``Member, 
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner''; and
(5) in paragraph (g)--
(A) in subparagraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the 
end;
(B) in subparagraph (3), by striking the semicolon 
and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
``(4) the term `covered relative' means an 
individual who is legally married to a Member, 
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, but does not 
include such an individual if the individual is a 
lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).''.
(b) Application to Senate.--For purposes of rule XXXV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the requirements under paragraphs 2(c), 
2(d), 2(e), 4(a), and 4(b) of such rule, including the information 
required to be disclosed under such paragraphs, shall apply to and 
include, as the case may be, an individual who is legally married to a 
Member of the Senate, but does not apply to or include such an 
individual if the individual is a lobbyist registered under the 
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
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