[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 84 (Monday, May 19, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2957-S2958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               GENIUS ACT

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, this evening we are going to once again 
vote to begin consideration of the GENIUS Act, and I am hoping that the 
second time will be the charm. We were here, 11 days ago, in the same 
place, when Democrats inexplicably chose to block this legislation.
  The question is, Why? Well, that is a good question. Stablecoin 
regulation is a bipartisan issue. This bill reflects the bipartisan 
consensus on this issue, and it has had an open and bipartisan process 
since the very beginning--what we used, around here, to call regular 
order.
  In March, the Banking Committee marked up the bill text, considering 
40 amendments, and the bill ultimately passed out of the committee by a 
vote of 18 to 6, with support from 5 Democrats. And since then, both 
Republican and Democrat Members have worked to advance this 
legislation; that is, until a week and a half ago, when Democrats 
suddenly decided to block it, just as we were getting ready to have a 
debate on the floor.
  The bill brought up a week and a half ago is the exact same bill the 
Democrats, apparently, now, are willing to move forward on. And then, 
as now, Republicans were committed to a full debate on the floor, with 
the chance for further bipartisan amendments to the already bipartisan 
piece of legislation.
  So it is really hard to understand why we needed to wait an 
additional 11

[[Page S2958]]

days for Democrats to finally agree to move. I am not sure if Democrats 
wanted to deny Republicans and President Trump a bipartisan legislative 
victory and then perhaps thought better of their obstruction--or what? 
But, at least, we finally seem to be here, ready to take up this bill 
because this is important legislation.
  The use of cryptocurrency has exploded from the margins to the 
mainstream, and stablecoins have emerged as a key part of the crypto 
ecosystem. They offer the speed and security of the blockchain with the 
stability and usability of the dollar bill. And they provide a business 
and consumer friendly way to make payments.
  But stablecoin issuers and users face challenges. In the United 
States, stablecoins have operated in a legal gray zone. There are no 
clear rules of the road to follow. And between that and the Biden 
administration's targeting crypto companies with numerous lawsuits, 
many U.S.-based crypto companies have contemplated moving overseas, not 
something we want to see if we want the United States to remain at the 
forefront of financial innovation.
  Fortunately, the GENIUS Act addresses these problems by providing a 
clear regulatory framework for stablecoins, a framework that will 
protect consumers and our national security, while helping to keep the 
United States at the forefront of financial innovation.
  The bill will also create demand for the U.S. dollar and U.S. 
Treasurys, a good thing for both our national security and our fiscal 
house.
  So this is an important bill, and I am glad that it looks like we are 
finally going to be able to take it up. And I hope that, in the future, 
we will be able to take up bipartisan legislation without these 
unnecessary delays.
  I want to again thank my colleagues from both parties for their work 
on this bill. Senators Hagerty, Lummis, and Tim Scott have worked 
tirelessly with Senators Gillibrand and Alsobrooks and their Members. 
And they all deserve a ton of credit for listening to their respective 
sides of the aisle.
  So, Mr. President, I look forward to beginning the floor debate later 
today.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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