Key Highlights
- House Financial Services Chairman French Hill said the CLARITY Act could advance with the Senate’s planned September 15 procedural vote.
- Hill pointed to the House’s earlier passage of the bill with 78 Democratic votes.
- Ethics provisions remain among the issues being negotiated in the Senate.
House Financial Services Chairman French Hill said the CLARITY Act could move forward when the Senate holds its planned procedural vote on September 15, while disagreements over the bill’s ethics provisions remain unresolved.
In a September 3 post from the Financial Services GOP, Hill made the comments during a Fox Business interview while discussing whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune has enough support to advance the crypto market structure bill.
The legislation was not advanced before the Senate left Washington for its August recess. Lawmakers have continued discussions during the break, with ethics provisions remaining among the issues under negotiation.
Hill points to September 15 Senate vote
Hill described the September 15 vote as an important test of whether Republicans and Democrats can reach enough agreement to begin moving the legislation through the Senate.
“This important vote that Leader Thune has scheduled for September 15th around 3 PM will make the determination: can Democrats work with Republicans and make sure America leads the world in distributed ledger technology and financial services?”
The vote would be procedural rather than final passage. If the legislation clears that stage, senators would still have to work through further procedures and any amendments before the bill could be sent to the House or ultimately to the president.
House vote provides basis for Bipartisan support
Hill also cited the House’s previous vote on the legislation, saying its version passed with 78 Democratic votes.
The chairman said Senate lawmakers have spent about a year working through differences between proposals developed by the Senate Banking Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee.
He also referenced the GENIUS Act, which established a federal framework for payment stablecoins, as an example of crypto legislation that has already cleared Congress.
The CLARITY Act covers a broader set of issues, including the regulatory treatment of digital assets and the respective roles of federal and state regulators.
Ethics rules remain a sticking point
One of the remaining disagreements concerns ethics provisions involving public officials and digital assets.
Lawmakers have been discussing restrictions and safeguards related to potential conflicts of interest, while other negotiations have covered enforcement, illicit finance and regulatory authority.
The ethics dispute contributed to delays before the August recess and remains part of the discussions ahead of the September vote.
Atkins expects the bill to move in September
SEC Chair Paul Atkins has also expressed confidence that the Senate will move forward with the CLARITY Act in September.
Atkins has separately argued for clearer rules governing digital assets as the Securities and Exchange Commission develops its regulatory framework.
His comments, however, do not determine the Senate’s legislative process. The bill remains subject to negotiations, amendments and the votes needed to advance.
House schedule adds another deadline
The timing could become an additional challenge if Senate consideration extends beyond the September 15 vote.
The House is scheduled to leave Washington after September 17, potentially giving lawmakers a narrow window to consider the legislation if the Senate makes changes that require further House action.
That makes the sequence of Senate negotiations and votes particularly important. Even if the bill clears its first procedural hurdle, additional work would be required before Congress could send it to the president.
Trump has called for a “Fair Version”
The negotiations are also taking place alongside pressure from the White House.
At a White House meeting with crypto executives and U.S. financial regulators on August 19, President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass a “fair version” of the CLARITY Act.
The comments came as lawmakers were still working through differences over the bill. Trump’s position did not resolve the outstanding Senate negotiations.
CLARITY Act enters September with key questions unresolved
Hill’s comments identify September 15 as the next major Senate milestone, but the date does not guarantee passage of the CLARITY Act.
The outcome will depend on whether lawmakers can resolve the remaining disputes, secure sufficient bipartisan support, and complete the necessary Senate and House procedures within the remaining congressional calendar.
For now, the bill has a scheduled procedural vote ahead, while the negotiations over its final provisions continue.
Also Read: Circle President Urges Congress to Advance CLARITY Act
