The Senate officially adjourned its summer legislative period at 4:57 a.m. ET, marking the end of a busy overnight session.
During their final hours, senators successfully addressed two prominent items on their agenda. They confirmed Todd Blanche as the nation's 88th attorney general. Additionally, a bipartisan interim spending bill received approval, a crucial step that is expected to significantly reduce the likelihood of a government shutdown in October.
However, the legislative actions taken were nearly as significant as the matters left uncompleted.
Unresolved Legislative Priorities
The Senate did not extend its session to attempt a vote on the SAVE America Act. Notably, there were no procedural maneuvers by Republicans who support the SAVE America Act, despite their previous advocacy for foregoing the August recess to address legislative priorities.
Furthermore, senators did not hold a vote on a budget framework, which could have potentially allowed for the later inclusion and passage of election integrity measures through a process not subject to filibuster. This omission is anticipated to draw criticism from some conservative factions.
The SAVE America Act continues to face a lack of sufficient votes for passage. Nevertheless, proponents of the bill may leverage the Senate's decision to adjourn without addressing it as an opportunity to intensify pressure on its opponents.
Voter Identification and College Athletics Bills Stall
While the broader SAVE America Act did not advance, the Senate did conduct a test vote on a more narrowly focused voter identification bill, championed by Senator Jon Husted, an Ohio Republican. This measure was ultimately blocked by the Senate.
However, the test vote served the purpose of formally recording Democratic opposition to the bill. Granting Senator Husted a vote on his proposal was seen as a strategic move to bolster his prospects in his competitive re-election bid this autumn against former Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat.
Another significant piece of legislation that did not receive a test vote was a bipartisan bill aimed at regulating financial aspects of intercollegiate athletics. This occurred despite endorsements from major conferences such as the Big 10 and the SEC.
Former President Trump had even publicly urged the Senate to remain in session during August specifically to pass this bill, co-authored by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, and Senator Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, who is the ranking member on the panel. The proposed legislation faced internal disputes among Republicans, particularly regarding provisions related to the participation of men in women's sports.
On Friday evening, the former president issued a strong endorsement of the bill, asserting that the measure was sufficiently comprehensive. He stated, “Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.”
Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.
In a statement released overnight, Senator Cruz indicated that the bill remains an active legislative item. “The good news is that when the Senate returns in September, the Protect College Sports Act will be one of our first orders of business having locked in a vote,” Cruz remarked. Despite this assertion, no official vote on the bill has been secured on the Senate's upcoming calendar.
Cryptocurrency Regulation on the Horizon
Speculation had suggested that the Senate might pursue legislation to regulate cryptocurrency during the final days of its summer session. However, the existing differences among lawmakers proved too substantial to reconcile at that time.
Nonetheless, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, has scheduled a procedural vote concerning cryptocurrency for September 15, indicating that this issue will be revisited.
