White House Grows 'Bullish' on CLARITY Act

White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt said Tuesday he remains "optimistic and bullish" on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, signalling that the Trump administration has no intention of easing off the bill despite ongoing Senate disputes.

Witt made the remarks at the annual SALT conference in Wyoming, where he confirmed the administration would continue engaging with Democrats ahead of a critical procedural vote. The cloture vote on the motion to proceed is scheduled for September 15 at 2:15 PM ET.

A Long Road to the Senate Floor

The House passed the CLARITY Act in July 2025 by a 294-134 vote, but disagreements in the Senate over ethics, rewards, DeFi, and regulatory authority have prevented the bill's quick passage. The legislation has since missed multiple self-imposed deadlines, with the White House previously targeting a July 4 passage date.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the Clarity Act shortly before the Senate left for recess, setting up a procedural vote for September 15, the day after the Senate returns from its August recess. Invoking cloture would limit debate on the motion to proceed; it would not pass the bill or begin debate on the legislation itself. Republicans hold 53 seats, so the motion would need support from at least seven Democrats or independents if every Republican voted for it.

Stablecoin Rewards Remain a Sticking Point

Even if the September 15 vote clears, key disputes have yet to be resolved. A floor vote would not settle disputes over stablecoin rewards, illicit finance, or officials' crypto interests. Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott has said the stablecoin rewards dispute remains unresolved, even after lawmakers previously signalled they had reached a compromise on how such rewards could be offered.

The American Bankers Association and others have reportedly urged senators to use the Clarity Act to close a loophole that allows digital asset service providers to avoid the existing prohibition on stablecoin interest and yield. Meanwhile, Democratic staff on the Senate Banking Committee flagged five areas of concern with the latest draft, pointing to weakened investor protections, gaps in securities oversight, exposure to illicit finance, taxpayer risk, and possible conflicts of interest tied to the presidency.

With the Senate calendar growing increasingly tight, Galaxy Research cut its odds of the Clarity Act becoming law in 2026 from 50% to 30% last month, citing the shrinking Senate calendar. The administration, however, is pushing ahead. Witt said on Tuesday that the Trump administration remains "fully committed" to passing the Clarity Act next month.

Sources:
The Block: Majority Leader Thune files cloture on Clarity Act, setting up Sept. 15 Senate vote
CoinDesk: U.S. Senate opens first stage of Clarity Act voting
Yahoo Finance: Trump Admin "Fully Committed" to Pass Clarity Act in September, Patrick Witt Says