The Senate returned to Washington on Monday from a five-week recess, facing a packed legislative agenda before lawmakers leave town next month to campaign for the midterm elections. Having successfully deferred a government funding battle and averted a potential shutdown for now, the chamber is shifting focus to several key issues, including cryptocurrency rules and college athletics legislation. On Tuesday, the Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on the Clarity Act, a crypto bill designed to create a regulatory structure for digital assets. Whether the measure can achieve the 60 votes required to advance remains uncertain, though GOP senators released updated text on Sunday following extensive bipartisan negotiations. Senate Republican leaders are also pushing for the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan proposal addressing name, image, and likeness rights alongside transfer eligibility. While the bill has secured backing from the White House, the Big Ten, and the SEC, opposition from specific lawmakers and advocacy groups clouds its future. The Congressional Black Caucus announced last month that it could not support the legislation in its current form, arguing it failed to adequately incorporate input from Black athletes, coaches, agents, and HBCUs. Additional items on the table include the potential reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expired in June following disruptions to a prior bipartisan extension. Lawmakers also aim to address the stalled Farm Bill and process various nominations, while the House prepares to adjourn at the end of the week until after the midterms. Meanwhile, both chambers face mounting pressure to establish artificial intelligence safeguards as industry leaders raise concerns, prompting discussions over potential regulations, briefings, and corporate accountability.
Source: cbsnews.com
