WASHINGTON • Legislation to tighten controls on U.S. lawmakers’ financial transactions, including possibly banning them from buying and selling stocks, could be put on a fast track toward passage, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday.

Weeks ago, Pelosi said the House Administration Committee was reviewing several suggestions from rank-and-file members amid calls for a new prohibition on stock market transactions.

“I assume that they’ll have it pretty soon,” Pelosi said at her weekly news conference. She was referring to an Administration Committee bill.

The top House Democrat added that she also wants to see a tightening of fines on lawmakers who violate existing ethics laws on reporting investments and that any new controls on members of Congress would have to be extended to the entire federal government. Pelosi singled out the need to include the federal judiciary.

Late last year, Pelosi had defended stock market trading by members.

But the practice has come under increasing scrutiny, in part as social media users pay growing attention to U.S. lawmakers’ investments. Some individual lawmakers’ investments have raised questions over possible conflicts of interest given that Congress’ oversight duties can allow it to get information ahead of the public, with some members facing investigation or charges.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday joined in calling for bipartisan legislation.

“I believe this is an important issue that Congress should address, and it’s something that clearly has raised interest from both sides of the aisle ,” he said in a Senate speech.

Democrats hold a majority in Congress, but House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy told Punchbowl News in January that he also backed the effort — which precedes the Nov. 8 midterm congressional election that will decide which political party will control each chamber.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell separately told reporters on Tuesday that he had not yet weighed a possible ban but would consider any legislation.

He added that he does not own individual stocks and advises members to invest via mutual funds, as he does.

At her Wednesday news conference, Pelosi sidestepped a question on whether lawmakers’ spouses should be included in whatever new controls are written into legislation, saying she was leaving details to the committee.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., gestures while discussing the debt ceiling on Capitol Hill in Washington in July.

the associated press