The Senate will not vote on the CLARITY Act before the August recess, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) confirmed Thursday, pushing the crypto market structure bill’s timeline back to mid-September at the earliest.
Thune Confirms Bill Will Be Ready After Recess
POLITICO reporter Jordain Carney shared the confirmation on X, writing that Thune confirmed the Senate is punting the clarity vote until September and that leadership plans to have it “teed up” for when lawmakers return. The statement removes any remaining possibility that the bill could reach the floor before the break, with the Senate expected to reconvene in mid-September.
The CLARITY Act aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets, providing clearer rules and greater transparency across the crypto industry. Its delay marks the latest setback in a monthslong effort to move the legislation through the Senate after it cleared the House.
Democrats Push for More Negotiations Before Vote
Republican leadership had pushed to pass the bill before the recess, but the legislation has not secured sufficient Democratic support to proceed. Senate Democrats are seeking additional discussions on unresolved issues and have expressed skepticism toward a fast-tracked compromise that would move the CLARITY Act and other pending bills through before the break.
- A cloture motion from Thune would send the bill to the Committee on Environment and Public Works for a procedural decision on next steps
- Advancing the bill through unanimous consent would require approval from all 100 senators
- The CLARITY Act already passed the House before being sent to the Senate for consideration
GOP leaders have been working to secure a time agreement that would allow the chamber to clear outstanding legislative business before adjourning, but that effort has not yet produced enough bipartisan buy-in. Senators are expected to resume negotiations on the bill’s remaining sticking points before returning to Washington in September, setting up another round of talks that will determine whether the legislation can finally reach a floor vote when Congress reconvenes.