Key Highlights
- Senator Dave McCormick urged the Senate to hold a vote on the CLARITY Act before the August recess, saying the time for delays is over.
- The CLARITY Act is still nine votes short of the 60 needed to advance, with no Democrat publicly supporting the latest version of the bill.
- An initial procedural vote could happen before August 7, but a final Senate vote is more likely after lawmakers return in September.
U.S Senator Dave McCormick has called on the Senate to stop delaying action on the CLARITY Act, urging lawmakers to bring the crypto market structure bill to the Senate floor for a vote before the August recess.
Speaking in a FOX interview, McCormick said the time for more negotiations has passed and argued that every senator should publicly show where they stand on the legislation. He said clear digital asset rules are needed to protect consumers and help keep crypto innovation and jobs in the United States.
“The time for delay is over,” McCormick wrote in a post on X. “Bring the CLARITY Act to the Senate Floor for a vote and let every senator go on the record. America needs clear rules that protect consumers and keep digital asset innovation and jobs here at home.”
Why McCormick wants a vote before August
During the interview, McCormick said lawmakers had already spent enough time discussing the bill. “Time now to move forward and get a vote on the Clarity Act,” he said. He added that the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Banking Committee had agreed on a common version of the bill, saying, “So we need to get this to the floor and vote on it.”
McCormick also noted that no vote has been scheduled yet but stressed that lawmakers have only two weeks left before the Senate begins its August recess.
Why the CLARITY Act matters
His comments come as attention grows around the CLARITY Act, which is designed to create clear rules for the U.S. digital asset industry. The bill is expected to explain how different crypto assets should be regulated and set responsibilities for companies operating in the sector.
Although McCormick wants a vote as soon as possible, the Senate still faces several hurdles before the bill can move forward. The Crypto Times reported earlier today that senators could hold an initial procedural vote before August 7.
However, completing the full Senate process before lawmakers leave Washington appears difficult because several required steps are still pending.
Why the Senate vote is being delayed
One major challenge is that no cloture motion has been filed. Even if one is filed, senators would still need to hold procedural votes, debate the bill, consider possible amendments, and then vote on final passage.
Those steps take time, and Democratic lawmakers are not expected to agree to speed up the process through unanimous consent.
The bill still needs more support
The bill also remains short of the votes needed to advance. Based on senators’ public statements, the CLARITY Act currently has 53 declared supporters, including 51 Republicans.
It still needs 60 votes in total to move ahead in the Senate. No Democrat has publicly backed the latest version, while at least 12 Democrats have opposed it or strongly criticized the current draft. Another 25 Democrats have not publicly revealed how they plan to vote.
It is important to note that these support figures are not official Senate votes. They are based on lawmakers’ public comments and known positions, meaning the final vote could look different if senators change their minds when the bill reaches the Senate floor.
Democrats have said they are not against crypto market structure legislation itself. Instead, many believe the latest version of the CLARITY Act still needs changes.
Also, there are still discussions over ethics rules for government officials, stablecoin reward programs, and anti-money-laundering requirements. Republicans are also working to reach an ethics agreement that can gain support from Democrats and the White House.
What happens next for the CLARITY Act
The CLARITY Act has already cleared one important step after passing the Senate Banking Committee by a bipartisan 15-9 vote in May. Senator Cynthia Lummis later introduced an updated 616-page draft that combined work from both the Banking and Agriculture committees.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune recently said he does not expect lawmakers to complete work on the bill before the August break, but he would like to at least begin the process.
If that happens, supporters could use an initial procedural vote to measure bipartisan support before Congress returns in September, when the most realistic window for a final Senate vote is expected.
Also Read: Crypto Council Releases ‘Myth vs. Fact’ Defense of CLARITY Act