The U.S. Financial Services Committee published a commentary by Capital Markets Subcommittee Chair Rep. Ann Wagner outlining the aims of the INVEST Act, a package of more than 20 bipartisan bills that has passed the House and is awaiting Senate action. The package is positioned as a set of measures to expand access to U.S. capital markets for retail investors and businesses beyond major coastal financial centres. Wagner framed the legislation as redirecting investment toward entrepreneurs and small businesses, including in the Midwest, to support job creation. She also pointed to provisions intended to improve retirement savers’ opportunities by reducing burdens for emerging companies and expanding access to streamlined registration, citing a decline in the number of U.S. public companies from 8,800 in 1997 to fewer than 4,000 in 2024. The commentary also references changes aimed at opening participation in private-market investing by moving away from eligibility rules based on wealth and toward knowledge and experience, and cited support from over 80 organisations and 300 House members. Next steps are Senate consideration of the House-passed INVEST Act package.
U.S. Financial Services Committee 2026-01-16
U.S. Financial Services Committee highlights House-passed INVEST Act package to broaden capital markets access and ease requirements for emerging companies
The U.S. Financial Services Committee released a commentary by Capital Markets Subcommittee Chair Rep. Ann Wagner on the INVEST Act, a package of over 20 bipartisan bills aimed at expanding access to U.S. capital markets for retail investors and businesses, particularly in the Midwest. The legislation seeks to support job creation, improve retirement savers' opportunities, and open private-market investing by shifting eligibility from wealth to knowledge and experience, with Senate consideration pending.