Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rick Berg today released the following statement applauding the Senate passage of the STOCK Act:

“The STOCK Act is another step toward changing the way Washington does business and I will work with my colleagues in the House to advance this bipartisan bill,” Berg stated. “In North Dakota, we put good policy ahead of politics, and the House and Senate fulfill their responsibilities and vote on each other’s bills.  As the House prepares to consider the STOCK Act, the Senate ought to follow suit and also vote on the 28 bipartisan, House-passed job-creating bills that they've so far failed to act on.  These job-creating bills would remove regulatory burdens that hinder our small businesses, encourage domestic energy production, and help get Americans back to work.”

The STOCK Act, of which Berg is a co-sponsor in the House, prohibits members of Congress and executive branch officials from trading stocks based on nonpublic information gained as a result of their official work.  The legislation passed in the U.S. Senate last night by a vote of 96 – 3, with the support of both of North Dakota’s senators.

Over the last year, the House has passed 28 bipartisan, job-creating bills that the Democrat-controlled Senate has refused to take up for a vote.  These bills would empower small business owners, reduce the regulatory burdens that hurt job creation and business growth, and encourage the growth of America’s energy sector.  The House-passed jobs bills that are stuck in the Senate may be tracked here.

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