US Democrats announce push for AI hearing… motion to begin substantive review of electricity rate bill rejected 57 to 43

Democratic Representative Ted Lieu said Democrats will hold public AI hearings and pursue legislation imposing safety guardrails on AI and data centers if they win House and Senate majorities in the midterm elections, with the new Congress seated January 3, 2027. The plans, outlined in an AP interview, include construction moratoriums, project information disclosure, and power-grid cost-sharing measures, though no new federal rules have yet taken effect. The push follows a 57-43 Senate vote rejecting a motion to proceed to floor debate on an electricity-rate bill. Passage of any bill is not guaranteed by a Democratic majority alone, and the hearings would mark only the start of the legislative process.