Contact Congress about S. 1498: Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act
Top federal officials and their families could no longer buy or keep many personal investments. They would have to sell many assets, report more financial benefits, and face fines for missed deadlines or late trade reports.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act is a Senate bill waiting for floor action. The latest recorded action: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 294.
Latest action on S. 1498: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 294.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and their spouses and dependent children. It also affects ethics offices, trustees, family trusts, and businesses owned and controlled by these officials or their families.
Why this matters: The bill matters because it would change how top federal officials handle personal money while in office. It aims to reduce conflicts when officials make decisions that could affect their own investments. It could also make financial records easier for the public to check. The real effect would depend on how clearly the rules are written and how strongly ethics offices enforce them.
Key provisions in S. 1498
- The bill covers Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and their spouses and dependent children. It calls the officials "covered persons" and applies related rules to their families.
- The bill treats many assets as covered investments. This includes securities, commodities, futures, digital assets, derivatives tied to those assets, and similar financial interests, even when held through funds, trusts, or pay plans.
- The bill leaves out some investments. These include diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, U.S. Treasury securities, some government retirement plans, some small business interests, family farms or ranches that meet the rules, certain bonds already owned, and some Alaska Native corporation shares.
- Covered officials could not buy covered investments once the bill becomes law. After 90 days, they also could not sell them unless the sale follows the bill's required divestment rules.
- Covered officials would have to sell covered investments owned by them, their spouses, and dependent children. The deadlines are tied to when the official is sworn in or starts a new term, with special timing for assets that are hard to sell.
How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 1498
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about S. 1498
- What is S. 1498?
- Top federal officials and their families could no longer buy or keep many personal investments. They would have to sell many assets, report more financial benefits, and face fines for missed deadlines or late trade reports.
- How do I support or oppose S. 1498?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about S. 1498?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain S. 1498 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
