Todd Young

Mr. President, Procedure · 3 words86 percent--86 percent.Procedure The ask · 23 wordsI am here today to reiterate my support for the Stop Insider Trading Act and urge my colleagues to support this important bill. Claims · 55 wordsRecent polling suggests that 86 percent of the American people support this bill.¹ You see, in order to make the best possible policy decisions, Members of Congress are provided access to information that most Americans are not. We receive briefings. We write legislation. We serve on committees of jurisdiction over major sections of our economy. Reasoning · 119 wordsBut serving as a Member of Congress comes with a responsibility to put public interests ahead of personal gain. We have an obligation to put the interests of the people we represent ahead of our own interests. No Member of Congress should profit from insider information. There is a reason that can be difficult: Members who write the rules are also subject to them. Allowing Members to actively trade individual stocks creates an obvious conflict of interest. Even when no law is broken, the appearance of a conflict is damaging. It is damaging to this institution. It is damaging to public trust. It is damaging to our Republic. You know, it is leadership 101: Avoid the appearance of impropriety. Claims · 35 wordsWithout a doubt, some serving in Congress today benefit financially from the current system, but that should not prevent Congress from supporting a change that the overwhelming majority of Americans believe is needed and necessary. Procedure · 3 wordsIt bears repeating: ProcedureClaims · 37 wordsRecent polling shows that 86 percent of Americans favor banning Members of Congress from trading stocks.² Eighty-seven percent of Republicans, 88 percent of Democrats, ³and 81 percent of Independents support banning Members of Congress from trading stocks.⁴ Reasoning · 36 wordsRepublicans and Democrats disagree on so many issues these days, but Americans across the political spectrum agree that their elected representatives should not be able to use the privileges of public office for personal financial gain. Claims · 25 wordsThis sentiment is echoed across Indiana, I know.Unearned certainty I regularly hear from Hoosiers who are troubled about those serving in Congress profiting from their positions. Procedure · 5 wordsHere is the bottom line: ProcedureReasoning · 35 wordsThe American people should not have to wonder whether votes in Congress are influenced by what is best for the country or by what is best for the investment portfolios of those serving in Congress. Claims · 93 wordsThe Stop Insider Trading Act will help ensure that Congress plays by the same rules as everyone else. It would prevent Members of Congress, their spouses, ⁵and their dependent children from purchasing individual stocks and strengthen disclosure and enforcement requirements. This legislation is a step in the right direction, and it is what the people we represent want us to do. Trust in Congress remains at an alltime low.⁶ Passing this bill supported by 86 percent of the American people will help restore some level of trust in Congress and those who serve. The ask · 20 wordsLet’s do the right thing. Let’s support this 86 percent solution, and let’s put an end to swamp trading today. Procedure · 4 wordsI yield the floor.Procedure