PANews reported on May 15th that, according to CoinDesk, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee passed the CLARITY bill by a bipartisan vote of 15-9, moving it to the next stage of the process. Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks voted in favor along with all Republicans. Committee Chairman Tim Scott secured Democratic support at the last minute by allowing a previously rejected amendment. The bill will now be merged with the version previously passed by the House Agriculture Committee, then submitted to the full Senate for a vote, and finally to the House for a final decision.

The final passage of the bill still depends on further negotiations on preventing crypto and DeFi technologies from being used for financial crimes, as well as ethical clauses restricting government officials' involvement in the crypto industry. Alsobrooks stated that today's vote was a vote of continued effort, and much work remains to be done. Gallego also indicated that the final vote will depend on further progress. Digital Chamber of Commerce President Cody Carbone anticipates that an agreement on the ethical clauses will be finalized before a full vote, and the bill needs to be passed before August to avoid further delays due to the summer recess and midterm elections.