House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., declared that his party will tackle the financial burden of artificial intelligence data centers if Democrats reclaim their majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
During a press conference, Jeffries emphasized the need to protect Americans from surging energy costs caused by the rapid proliferation of data centers nationwide.
“House Democrats have long committed to supporting innovation while ensuring affordability,” he stated. “We must shield the American homeowner and ratepayer from the downsides of this explosive growth in data centers—especially those that drive up electricity bills.”
Jeffries reiterated his party’s dual focus: fostering U.S. leadership in AI technology without sacrificing consumer protections. “From the outset, we have championed innovation excellence while establishing guardrails to safeguard the American people,” he said.
The remarks follow Maine Governor Janet Mills’ recent veto of legislation (LD 307) that would have temporarily paused permitting for large data centers in her state. The bill also called for a council to evaluate environmental and energy impacts.
Mills stated she endorsed a temporary moratorium but opposed the bill’s failure to exclude a specific redevelopment project in Jay, Maine: “A moratorium is appropriate given the environmental and rate-impacting consequences of massive data centers elsewhere,” she said. “However, this bill does not account for the community-supported project in Town of Jay.”
Additionally, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., has introduced an AI-focused bill aimed at curbing deepfake technology and non-consensual imagery, with provisions to streamline whistleblower reporting on AI safety concerns.
