Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing to hold a floor vote on the CLARITY Act before Congress breaks for August recess. The move aims to force senators to publicly state their positions even though the bill currently lacks the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster.
The legislation, officially H.R. 3633, has bipartisan roots after passing the House in July 2025 and moving through the Senate Banking Committee with a 15-9 vote in May 2026. Senator Cynthia Lummis unveiled a revised version on July 22 that merges proposals from both the Senate Banking and Agriculture committees, giving lawmakers limited time to debate and amend the bill before the August 7 recess.
Democratic Backing Remains Uncertain
Republicans hold 53 seats, so the bill requires support from about seven Democrats to meet the 60-vote threshold. A faction of Democrats, led by Senator Angela Alsobrooks, has voiced concerns over consumer protections and anti-money laundering measures. also ethics restrictions for senior federal officials remain a sticking point.
The updated bill introduces a temporary ban on senior federal officials, including the president and vice president, from endorsing or issuing digital assets, a rule set to expire in 2029. Negotiations continue as lawmakers try to balance stronger ethics safeguards demanded by Democrats with maintaining White House backing. Senator Thom Tillis acknowledged that an agreement on ethics rules has not yet been reached.
