Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act (H.R.9442): temporarily halting new large AI data centers (10 cosponsors)
H.R.9442, the "Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act," is a House bill that appears aimed at temporarily halting (a moratorium on) the construction of large AI data centers. The sponsor is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), with 10 cosponsors. It was introduced on June 24, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Bill overview (primary data)
- Bill numberH.R. 9442
- TypeHouse Bill
- Congress119th Congress
- Latest actionReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.（2026-06-24）
Key points
- A House bill (H.R.9442) that appears aimed at temporarily halting (a moratorium on) the construction of large AI data centers.
- Backdrop: AI growth has multiplied data centers, drawing scrutiny of power and water use, electricity bills, and burden on local environments and residents (general context).
- The idea is to pause new construction until impacts are understood, raising the tension of AI growth vs. community and environmental protection.
- Sponsor Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), with 10 cosponsors; introduced June 24, 2026.
- Scope, duration, and exceptions are outside this summary; no firm conclusions are drawn, and evaluations differ sharply by viewpoint.
The physical foundation of the generative-AI boom is the huge data centers rising in many places. Their power demand has surged, and in some areas the burden of new generation and transmission, higher electricity bills, the large amounts of water used for cooling, and friction with residents over noise and land use have become real problems.
Even as the benefits of the technology are celebrated, the question arises from the perspective of communities bearing the burden: is this pace of expansion right?
H.R.9442, the AI Data Center Moratorium Act, is a House bill that seeks to answer that. As its name (Moratorium) indicates, it appears aimed at temporarily halting new large AI data centers, the idea being to pause until impacts are assessed and rules are set. The sponsor is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), with 10 cosponsors. It was introduced on June 24, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
What size of data center, for what period, and with what exceptions would be covered are provision details beyond the information here, so no firm conclusions are drawn.
A data-center moratorium confronts head-on the tension of how to reconcile AI growth with protecting local environments and lives. Proponents emphasize competitiveness and jobs; the cautious emphasize power, water, and burden on residents, so evaluations differ sharply by viewpoint. This bill can be understood as one of the U.S. moves to seek a brake on AI-infrastructure expansion from a community and environmental angle.
The facts to hold onto are the bill purpose (a temporary halt on new large AI data centers) and its current procedural stage (referred to Energy and Commerce).
Why it matters
For data-center, cloud, power, and AI-infrastructure businesses, a halt on new construction could directly affect siting, investment plans, and power procurement, a weighty issue. Because size, duration, and exceptions depend on the text and evaluations differ sharply between proponents and skeptics, AI-infrastructure companies have strong reason to watch the deliberations (this summary organizes purpose and procedural stage).
FAQ
What is a moratorium?
Has the bill become law?
Sources (primary)
Source: Congress.gov (Library of Congress; U.S. legislative materials, public domain). Links go to the official site.
- Congress.gov (bill page, original)
- H.R. 9442（119th Congress）