Senate Puts Off CLARITY Act Cloture Filing as Ethics Talks Drag On

The Senate did not file cloture on the CLARITY Act on Monday, postponing what had been the next expected procedural step ahead of the August recess. With bipartisan talks over ethics language still unresolved and policy disputes lingering, the bill's timeline and vote prospects remain in flux. Journalist Eleanor Terrett reported that Majority Leader John Thune held off on filing cloture as the chamber focused on procedural work tied to the continuing resolution. Uncertainty over vote counts and open policy issues also appeared to factor into the delay. Terrett said Thune could still file cloture as early as Tuesday once the continuing-resolution process clears. Under Senate rules, an intervening day plus one hour must elapse before the initial cloture vote can occur. Terrett noted that a separate 30-hour clock applies only after cloture is invoked, but emphasized that multiple outstanding issues still leave the endgame unclear. Ethics negotiations have emerged as the central hurdle. Terrett said the White House has not responded to an updated ethics counterproposal from Senators Thom Tillis and Ruben Gallego. The revised proposal reportedly builds on an earlier framework and would give state attorneys general an enforcement role. Democrats are said to favor that provision, while the White House has opposed it. Other sticking points remain, including disputes over the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act and provisions drafted by the Senate Agriculture Committee. Talks on those sections are continuing as lawmakers work toward a possible vote. Thune recently told reporters he expects the Senate to vote on market structure legislation, while acknowledging uncertainty about whether the chamber can formally begin debate. Terrett reported that some participants now want senators on the record regardless of the bill's ultimate outcome. Senator Cynthia Lummis also urged lawmakers to make a definitive decision after negotiations expanded the package to include additional law enforcement, ethics, and decentralized finance provisions. Kristin Smith, president of the Solana Policy Institute, pointed to the GENIUS Act as a precedent, noting it initially failed a cloture vote before later passing the Senate. Negotiations continue as senators prepare for the next procedural step.