policy
Stopping members of Congress from trading stocks
When members of Congress trade stock while in office, they abuse the public trust. Our laws need to be strengthened to correct weaknesses dealing with insider trading.
Ethics &
Accountability
Congressional Ethics
The Office of Congressional Ethics was established to work alongside and inform the House Committee on Ethics and the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics. It is a vital independent watchdog positioned to help curb corruption within Congress and maintain the integrity of members. Learn more about our work to protect independent accountability bodies such as the Office of Congressional Ethics.
Featured Press
Raw Story: ‘Aren’t we a little more grown up than that?’: Ex-lawmaker rips Congress for ‘dog ate my homework’ excuses
ReFormers Caucus member Brian Baird quoted...
Issue One praises bipartisan effort to ban members of Congress from trading stocks
Roll Call: Advocacy groups denounce GOP proposals to ‘gut’ ethics office
Issue One Legislative Director Elise Wirkus cited...
Insider: Ban federal lawmakers and their family members from trading stocks, 37 former lawmakers tell Congress
The Latest on Congressional Ethics
Press releases
Co-chairs of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus praise advancement of bipartisan proposal banning members of Congress from trading stocks
Last week, Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) introduced the bipartisan ETHICS Act, a framework – built off of a proposal from…
Press releases
Sen. Menendez made the right decision to step down, ReFormers Caucus co-chairs say
Following the news that Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has tendered his resignation after being found guilty of bribery, extortion, and wire fraud, Issue One released the following statement from Amb.…
Press releases
Sen. Menendez should resign, ReFormers Caucus co-chairs say following criminal conviction
Following today’s conviction of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on 16 counts of bribery, extortion, and wire fraud, Issue One released the following statement from Amb. Tim Roemer (D-IN) and Rep.…
Press releases
Members of Congress have a responsibility to uphold the highest ethical standards, ReFormers Caucus co-chairs say following Rep. Santos expulsion
In reaction to today’s bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) from Congress in response to a thorough investigation by the House Ethics Committee,…
Press releases
Rep. Santos has tarnished the institution of Congress and should resign, ReFormers Caucus co-chairs say following ethics report release
Today, the House Committee on Ethics released its final report following an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by Rep. George Santos (R-NY). The report uncovered substantial evidence of illegal activity…
In the media
Raw Story: ‘Aren’t we a little more grown up than that?’: Ex-lawmaker rips Congress for ‘dog ate my homework’ excuses
ReFormers Caucus member Brian Baird quoted...
Sign-on letters
Members of Issue One’s Bipartisan ReFormers Caucus Urge House Leadership and Ethics Committee Leadership to Conduct a Thorough Investigation into Rep. George Santos and to Codify the Office of Congressional Ethics
We as members of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus — a bipartisan coalition made up of nearly 200 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet officials — urge the House Committee…
Sign-on letters
Issue One joins more than 25 groups in support of strengthening and codifying the Office of Congressional Ethics into law
Issue One joined more than 25 groups this week in urging Congress to strengthen and codify the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) into law. The letter opposes the recently passed…
Press releases
Issue One praises bipartisan effort to ban members of Congress from trading stocks
Issue One today applauded the bipartisan reintroduction of the TRUST in Congress Act, a bill that would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and their children from buying and selling…
Press releases
Issue One joins broad coalition urging Congress to strengthen, not weaken, congressional ethics watchdog
Issue One today joined a broad coalition of two dozen organizations in urging Congress to strengthen, not weaken, the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). The new letter warns that changes…