Wisconsin’s Bryan Steil and the CLARITY Act
Wisconsin’s Bryan Steil, a key proponent of the House’s cryptocurrency legislation known as the CLARITY Act, remains optimistic about passing the bill ahead of the 2026 deadline set by Republican leaders, despite the ongoing government shutdown. In a recent interview with CNBC, Steil asserted that the effort to provide a clearer regulatory framework for digital currencies continues to be a priority for Republicans.
Senate’s Commitment and Shutdown Concerns
The Senate has committed to advancing its own version of the legislation, aiming for final approval by 2026. However, the eighth day of the shutdown has raised concerns across the cryptocurrency sector about the feasibility of progressing the bill.
“We can still achieve CLARITY by the year’s end,” Steil stated, expressing hope that the Senate will move swiftly once the shutdown is resolved.
He mentioned that if the Senate opts to adopt the House’s language for the bill, there is a viable path to its enactment by December.
Impact of the Government Shutdown
Steil’s comments came in the context of a stalled Senate vote on a temporary government funding measure, which has consequently extended the shutdown and affected various federal operations including air travel. The failure to pass a continuing resolution by September 30 has led to widespread furloughs and limited agency operations.
Back in July, the House moved forward with its version of the CLARITY Act during a designated “crypto week,” signaling a robust Republican push for crypto regulation. Although there was anticipation for a vote by the banking committee—led by Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis—no progress has been made since the end of September.
Current Congressional Activity
Currently, while Congress remains active, lawmakers are still receiving their pay. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated the House will not reconvene until the Senate passes a bill to resume government operations. The SEC, which oversees aspects of cryptocurrency regulation, is currently functioning with a minimal workforce, and it has indicated that it will pause its reviews of cryptocurrency ETF applications until the government reopens. Nonetheless, it continues to accept electronic filings related to these submissions during the shutdown.
