How do members of Congress disclose their trades?
Under the STOCK Act, members of Congress must report trades over 1,000 dollars within 30 days of learning about them, and no later than 45 days after the trade. The reports list the stock, the date, buy or sale, and a dollar range rather than an exact amount.
The reports
House and Senate members file reports called periodic transaction reports. Each line shows the asset, the trade date, the type of trade, the owner (the member, a spouse, or a dependent child), and an amount range.
Ranges, not exact amounts
Amounts are reported in bands such as 1,001 to 15,000 dollars or 1,000,001 to 5,000,000 dollars. That is why totals on Stockslash are shown as ranges.
Timing
Reports can arrive up to 45 days after a trade, and late filings happen. The usual penalty for filing late is a 200 dollar fee. Recent weeks keep filling in as new reports come in.
Frequently asked questions
Do spouses' trades count?
Yes. Trades by a spouse or dependent child are reported too, and each report shows the owner.
Why are Congress trade amounts shown as ranges?
The law asks members to report dollar bands, not exact amounts, so only the range is known.