Hill Update: September 2026

Congress cut their September work period short to get back to their home districts in the lead up to the November elections. During the shortened work period, Congress held oversight hearings on the economy, voted to advance a new Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and held a long-awaited vote on a deregulatory crypto markets structure bill.

Senate Votes Down Deregulatory Crypto Legislation

On September 15, 2026, the Senate held a vote on the CLARITY Act, a deregulatory bill favored by the crypto industry. The vote required 60 Senators to pass and failed with a final vote of 49 in favor and 50 against (with one Senator absent). Senators from both parties voted against the legislation. Better Markets has long been standing up against the lawless crypto industry and raised key questions about the legislation that lawmakers should address before they advanced the bill to become law. Be sure to check out our work on crypto here.

Congress Holds Hearing on State of the Economy

On September 2, 2026, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing entitled “Strengthening the American Economy: Promoting Growth, Opportunity, and Prosperity.” During the hearing, Darrick Hamilton, a professor at The New School and Chief Economist for the AFL-CIO, noted that to improve the American economy, investments must be made in American workers and strong consumer protections put in place for Main Street consumers. Ranking Member Maxine Waters highlighted how many of the policies of the current administration are adding to the affordability crisis hitting many American households, such as rising mortgage rates, medical debt, and the price of everyday essentials. You can watch the full hearing and read the testimonies here.