TRUST in Congress Act

Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust in Congress Act or the TRUST in Congress Act

This bill requires a Member of Congress, as well as any spouse or dependent child of a Member, to place specified investments into a qualified blind trust (i.e., an arrangement in which certain financial holdings are placed in someone else's control to avoid a possible conflict of interest) until 180 days after the end of their tenure as a Member of Congress.

The TRUST in Congress Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 345, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress aimed at increasing transparency and accountability within the legislative branch. The main goal of the bill is to restore trust in Congress by addressing issues related to conflicts of interest, lobbying, and ethics.

One key provision of the TRUST in Congress Act is the establishment of a new Office of Congressional Ethics, which would be responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct by members of Congress. This office would operate independently from the House and Senate ethics committees, providing an additional layer of oversight.

Additionally, the bill includes measures to increase transparency in lobbying activities. Lobbyists would be required to disclose more information about their interactions with members of Congress, including details about meetings, gifts, and campaign contributions. This increased transparency is intended to reduce the influence of special interests on legislative decision-making. The TRUST in Congress Act also includes provisions to address conflicts of interest among members of Congress. Lawmakers would be required to disclose any financial interests that could potentially influence their decision-making, and would be prohibited from using their positions for personal gain. Overall, the TRUST in Congress Act seeks to promote integrity and accountability within the legislative branch, with the ultimate goal of restoring public trust in Congress. The bill is currently being debated in Congress, with supporters arguing that it is necessary to address the perception of corruption and self-dealing among lawmakers.