Senate Democrats Block Data Center Bill

Senate Democrats Reject Data Center Legislation

Senate Democrats have blocked a bill aimed at addressing data center electricity costs, labeling it as ineffective and lacking substance. Despite garnering bipartisan support in the House, the Ratepayer Protection Act failed to secure the necessary 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, falling short with a 57-43 procedural vote on Wednesday.

Democratic Senators Jon Ossoff from Georgia, Raphael Warnock from Georgia, Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire, and Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota sided with Republicans to support the bill. Both Ossoff and Klobuchar are facing political contests, with Ossoff preparing for a challenging Senate race in November and Klobuchar running for Minnesota’s governorship.

Details of the Blocked Bill

The bill, spearheaded in the Senate by Republican Senator Jon Husted from Ohio, intends to compel states to contemplate adopting standards requiring tech companies to bear the additional electricity costs burdened by data centers. However, critics argue that the bill’s voluntary nature may result in no real action, reducing its effectiveness.

Democrats advocate for legislation that would enforce Big Tech to cover these expenses directly. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer from New York criticized the bill, stating, “Americans are demanding real guardrails on AI and data centers, but all the Republicans offer is a toothless messaging bill. The bill is a fraud. I can sum up the shortcomings of the Republican data center bill with one word: optional. The bill is optional.”

Supporters of the bill acknowledge its limitations, but believe it could encourage states to consider standards even if they haven’t already taken steps in that direction.

Technology and Policy Updates

• Sen. Rand Paul blocked efforts to pass the Kids Online Safety Act instituted by Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn, intended to hold social media accountable for harms to minors.
• The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is investigating former Rep. Adam Kinzinger’s trades connected to President Biden’s pardons.
• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized President Trump’s opposition to federal AI regulations, arguing that letting the industry self-regulate is hazardous.
• NASA plans for an uncrewed Starliner test flight by Boeing scheduled for December, pushing the project despite past failures.

Stay informed on political and policy developments directly impacting the tech sector. Sign up for The Hill’s Technology newsletter.