{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.husted.senate.gov/media/press-releases/husted-bill-to-protect-americans-from-footing-the-bill-for-new-data-centers-blocked-from-passage/", "Husted bill to protect Americans from footing the bill for new data centers blocked from passage", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OH", "Jon Husted", "H001104", "www.husted.senate.gov", "husted", "https://www.husted.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThe Ratepayer Protection Act represents the most meaningful bipartisan step Congress could take to protect the American people from higher prices for electricity.\u201d\n\nView Husted\u2019s remarks here.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today brought his Ratepayer Protection Act to the Senate floor, seeking its passage by unanimous consent\u2014a process that expedites consideration of legislation in the United States Senate.\n\nA Senate Democrat objected, blocking the bill from Senate passage.\n\nThe Ratepayer Protection Act would ensure American families and small businesses aren\u2019t left paying for the energy infrastructure needed to support new data centers.\n\nHusted introduced the bill on July 16, 2026.\n\nThe Ratepayer Protection Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 16, 2026, by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 417-3.\n\nKey excerpts include:\n\n\u201cMr. President, America is expected to build the equivalent of 1,000 major data centers during the next five years.\n\n\u201cYou heard that correct.\n\n\u201c1,000 data centers within the next five years, with more than 2,000 projects currently being proposed.\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cAnd we need to protect American ratepayers from footing the bill.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cSo, as we look to build the future, we must follow some basic principles of fairness.\n\n\u201cThe company that is creating enormous new demands for electricity should pay the costs required to serve them.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cWorking families, small businesses and senior citizens should not open up their electric bills and discover the pain for the power infrastructure needed by some large tech company in the world or in their neighborhood.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cThat is the principle behind the Ratepayer Protection Act.\n\n\u201cWhen a very large electricity customer, such as the data center, connects to the grid, it can require investments in new generation transmission lines, substations and local distribution systems.\n\n\u201cThe Ratepayer Protection Act would require state utility regulators to consider standards, ensuring that large load customers pay the full, incremental cost of the infrastructure needed to serve them.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cIn plain language, if you create the cost, you should pay the cost.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cData centers should only be located where communities want them.\n\n\u201cThey can bring billions of dollars in private investment, construction work for electricians, pipefitters, equipment operators and other skilled trades, as well as revenue for schools and local services.\n\n\u201cBut those benefits should not come with a hidden charge of electric bills for families, farmers and small businesses.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cWhen energy supply adequately meets demand, it helps put downward pressure on prices for consumers.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cHelps people save money.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s what it does.\n\n\u201cThey can keep more of their paycheck for what they need to spend on for their priorities.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cWe can protect families and small businesses from unfair costs.\n\n\u201cThe Ratepayer Protection Act rests on a principle every American understands: pay your own way.\n\n\u201cThis is how we make sure American families are not left footing the bill for energy infrastructure required by data centers.\n\n\u201cMost importantly, it will help the American people keep more of what they earn.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cYesterday, this bill passed the House of Representatives by a nearly unanimous vote of 417 to 3.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cSo, the members of the House, they did their jobs.\n\n\u201cThey stood up for the American ratepayer.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s time for the Senate to do the same.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cIn a few moments, I\u2019m going to ask my colleagues in the Senate to support the Ratepayer Protection Act.\n\n\u201cTogether, we can send this bill to the president\u2019s desk for his signature.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cThe Ratepayer Protection Act represents the most meaningful bipartisan step Congress could take to protect the American people from higher prices for electricity.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m here today because we can get this done.\u201d\n\n. . .\n\n\u201cI am proud to have led this effort in the United States Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m going to urge unanimous consent for this commonsense bill.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.husted.senate.gov/media/press-releases/husted-bill-to-protect-americans-from-footing-the-bill-for-new-data-centers-blocked-from-passage/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7903790101408958, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}