The September 30 deadline for Senate Republicans to amend the Market Structure Act is now nearly impossible to meet, according to multiple sources on Capitol Hill.
Democrats have not yet submitted their response to the bill, demanding agreement on the process before negotiating details. The threat of a government shutdown and a tight meeting schedule make a September 30 meeting unlikely; a new date for the week of October 20 is being considered but not yet decided.
- The September 30 deadline to amend the Market Structure Act is considered unfeasible.
- Democrats want to agree on process before negotiating content; no official response yet.
- Consider pushing back to the week of October 20; amendments from the CFTC-related Agriculture Committee in October may not prevent the process before year-end.
Current situation
The September 30 deadline for Senate members to complete the amendments was deemed unrealistic by multiple sources on Capitol Hill.
The main reasons include a lack of responsiveness from Democrats and a meeting schedule dominated by the threat of a government shutdown. These factors significantly reduce the possibility of a crucial meeting on September 30.
Reason for delay
Democrats have not yet provided feedback on the bill, insisting they need to agree on a process before going into details, leading to stalled negotiations.
In addition, the risk of a government shutdown has led leaders of both parties to prioritize urgent meetings, limiting the time available to amend the bill. Coordination between relevant committees is also complicated, slowing progress.
Postponement and impact
The new deadline is being considered for the week of October 20, but the decision has not been officially confirmed.
The Agriculture Committee is expected to take up the amendments to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in October; in theory, a delay in late September would not necessarily prevent the bill from being introduced in the Senate before the end of the year if the timeline is adjusted appropriately.
How long will the bill be postponed?
There's no official date yet; a possible date is the week of October 20, but the decision is still being considered.
What is the main reason why deadlines are not feasible?
Lack of response from Democrats on the process and the risk of a government shutdown, along with a packed schedule of meetings on Capitol Hill.
Does the postponement affect the Senate presentation before the end of the year?
In theory, not necessarily; if the committees coordinate and complete the amendments in October, the bill could still be introduced before the end of the year.
What is the Agricultural Committee's role in this process?
The committee is expected to amend the CFTC-related section in October, so its action will affect the bill's overall progress.
