Despite its rejection in the Senate, seven Democratic senators want to revive the CLARITY Act

After the rain, the good weather. Two days after seeing the CLARITY Act rejected by the Senate, seven Democratic senators break their silence. In a joint statement published last night, they said they wanted to relaunch the text before the end of the year. Nothing has been done yet. But the door that everyone thought was slammed is opening again, and in Washington, a text that comes back after a failed vote is not commonplace.

CLARITY Act: what the seven signatories say

The list is one line: Kirsten Gillibrand, Angela Alsobrooks, Cory Booker, Catherine Cortez Masto, Ruben Gallego, Mark Warner and Raphael Warnock.

Seven Democrats, co-signatories of a text which contrasts with the silence of recent days. Their joint statement, published on September 16, does not beat around the bush:

“This week marked a setback, but not the end (…) We remain determined to work in a bipartisan manner to have this text adopted. »

For context, and reminder, on September 15, the Senate votes to close the debates, the procedure which paves the way for the final vote. 60 votes were needed. The text only collects 49, compared to 50. Enough to predict a first-class funeral.

Except that Republican Senator Thom Tillis votes against his own camp. A maneuver to keep open the possibility of filing a motion for reconsideration.

Do not overinterpret: the seven signatories are themselves among the senators who voted against closure on Tuesday. It is therefore not a rallying of new support, but a signal from the same elected officials that they remain at the negotiating table.

CLARITY Act: discreet discussions, tight schedule

What the official statement does not say, journalist Eleanor Terrett recounts on September 17, citing three sources close to the discussions: discreet efforts are already underway to reopen the negotiating table and gauge the appetite of both camps.

“A group of seven Democratic senators, including Kirsten Gillibrand, Mark Warner, Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks, say they are “committed to working in a bipartisan manner” to pass the Clarity Act.

The statement comes as early efforts are underway to restart bipartisan discussions and gauge both sides' appetite for a return to the table, with the goal of passing the Clarity Act before the end of the year, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.

Eleanor Terrett, on X

The objective remains ambitious, to have the text voted on before the end of the year, in a Senate where each week weighs double as the November mid-term elections approach. Sector lobbies are already looking towards this November election. Stand With Crypto promises to make senators who voted against pay the bill. Fairshake, the largest PAC in the sector, has not yet decided on its strategy for these final weeks of the campaign.

However, there is no guarantee that the Republicans will bring the text back to the agenda straight away. Seven Democratic signatures alone are not enough to reopen a vote.