Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is taking on her own colleagues in Congress with a bold plan to end what she calls one of Capitol Hill’s most corrupt practices — stock trading by lawmakers.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the 36-year-old congresswoman announced she will file a measure designed to force a vote on banning members of Congress and their families from buying or selling stocks. Luna argued that lawmakers from both parties have been involved in questionable financial dealings, saying the practice is riddled with insider trading and conflicts of interest.
Her plan involves filing a discharge petition, a procedural tool that lets rank-and-file members bypass House leadership and push legislation directly to the floor for a vote — if they can collect 218 signatures, or a majority of the chamber.
“This is about doing what’s right, even if it makes me unpopular,” Luna said. “The American people are demanding this change.”
The proposal would require lawmakers and their immediate family members to sell off any stocks, commodities, or futures they own within 180 days of the bill becoming law. It already has the support of Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and, according to Luna, has received encouragement from former President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The issue of congressional stock trading has drawn increasing scrutiny in recent years. Politicians including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and freshman Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) have faced criticism for trades that raised eyebrows. Despite a congressional salary of $174,000 per year, many lawmakers hold multimillion-dollar portfolios, fueling suspicions about how wealth is accumulated while in office.
Although the STOCK Act of 2012 made it illegal for lawmakers to trade based on insider information and required public disclosure of transactions, compliance has been weak. Violations often result in minor fines of only a few hundred dollars, no matter how large the trades. Studies have also shown that members of Congress consistently outperform the market, intensifying concerns over whether they use privileged knowledge for personal gain.
Polls show the public is overwhelmingly on board with reform — with more than 80% of voters favoring a stock trading ban for lawmakers. Several bills on the issue have been introduced in both the House and Senate this year, signaling growing momentum for change.
Still, Luna faces a steep climb. Her discharge petition has yet to be introduced, and it remains unclear if she can rally enough support in a deeply divided Congress. Many lawmakers have little appetite for restricting their own financial activities.
Luna, however, insists she’s undeterred: “This is about cleaning up corruption on both sides. I won’t back down.”
