US Senate Majority Leader Says Marijuana Banking Bill Remains a Key Priority for Senate

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says the Senate will “work very hard” to pass the SAFER Banking Act prior to the November election.

(Photo credit: J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press).

“We believe very strongly in so many things, and we are going to continue to work on the agenda that we put before us”, said Schumer at a recent press briefing. “We first have to fund the government, the supplemental is very important. But after that, you will see us turn to many of the bills that we passed: the SAFER Act, safety on the rails, so many other things.”

Schumer added “As you know, many of the bills we’ve passed are bipartisan… we’re going to work very hard on many different things.”

The SAFER Banking Act recently gained its 36th sponsor in the Senate. The measure was passed through the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs with bipartisan support in September, just a week after it was filed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in November that the full Senate is “getting close” to a vote.

The SAFER Banking Act has the support of the National Conference of State Legislatures, as well as a bipartisan group of 22 attorneys general.

According to polling released last week, “by greater than a 2-to-1 margin (55% support vs 23% oppose) U.S. adults support Congress passing legislation that allows cannabis businesses to access banking services.”

A House version of the bill, the SAFE Banking Act, recently garnered its 104th sponsor.

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