Senator Ruben Gallego warned that a rushed Senate vote on the CLARITY Act could slow progress on crypto market structure legislation rather than advance it.

Speaking at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium on Wednesday, Gallego said lawmakers still have unfinished work on the bill and urged the crypto industry to support continued negotiations instead of pushing for a quick vote.

The CLARITY Act is intended to create clear rules for digital assets in the United States. The proposal would divide oversight of the crypto market between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Gallego said the Agriculture Committee’s portion of the bill still needs to be completed before the measure is ready, underscoring that the debate is still in the drafting phase rather than at a final passage stage.

Gallego on timing

Gallego said a fast vote could produce a fast result, but not necessarily the outcome supporters want. In his view, moving too quickly could set the legislation back further instead of helping it advance.

He also said Congress still needs to determine how the bill would move to the House once the Senate completes its work. That process has not yet been settled.

Gallego urged the crypto industry to allow more time for negotiation rather than insist on an accelerated vote. He said rushing the process could weaken the bill’s chances over the long term.

Ethics proposal still awaiting White House response

Gallego said he and Republican Senator Thom Tillis sent compromise language on ethics rules to the White House before Congress left for recess. He said the aim was to establish ethics protections strong enough to win more Democratic support.

According to Gallego, the White House has not provided a point-by-point response. He said replies have been blank, weaker than before, or absent altogether.

Cointelegraph contacted the White House for comment and did not receive a response before publication.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed on August 7 that the chamber would delay the vote. He said the CLARITY Act would be among the first items taken up when the Senate returns from recess in September.

The delay comes as the Trump administration continues to press for passage of the bill. On Wednesday, President Trump called on Congress to pass what he described as a fair version of the CLARITY Act during an event with crypto executives at the White House.

White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt has said the administration plans to keep talking with Democrats ahead of the September vote. Witt also said the administration cannot wait forever for a deal.

Gallego’s remarks indicate that disagreements remain over ethics rules and other parts of the bill. Those gaps have not been closed as the September deadline approaches, leaving the measure dependent on continued negotiations between the Senate, the White House, and lawmakers involved in shaping the final text.

For now, the bill’s path through the Senate and then the House remains uncertain, and both sides say discussions are continuing without a final agreement.