What does Preamble of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This bill, formally titled 'To impose a moratorium on the construction of new data centers until legislation is enacted that safeguards the public from the dangers of artificial intelligence,' proposes a temporary halt to the construction of new data centers. The moratorium is intended to remain in effect until legislation addressing the potential dangers of artificial intelligence is enacted. The bill was introduced by Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, along with several co-sponsors, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This bill is formally titled the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act.

What does FINDINGS. of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This section outlines findings related to the potential consequences of unchecked artificial intelligence (AI) development. It cites numerous leading experts and industry leaders, including Elon Musk, Dario Amodei, Demis Hassabis, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mustafa Suleyman, Jim Farley, Larry Ellison, Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, and Mark Zuckerberg, who have expressed concerns about AI's potential impact. These concerns include job displacement, the creation of a surveillance state, and even the potential for AI to pose an existential threat to humanity. The findings also note calls for regulation and pauses in AI development to ensure safety, with some experts suggesting a global moratorium on training AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. Several individuals and groups have advocated for a prohibition on the development of superintelligence until safety and controllability are broadly agreed upon.

What does MORATORIUM ON CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DATA of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This section establishes a moratorium on the construction or upgrading of new or existing artificial intelligence data centers. The moratorium begins on the date of enactment of the Act and continues until specific laws are enacted and terminate it. The required laws must ensure federal review and approval of AI products to guarantee safety, effectiveness, and protection of civil rights. These laws must also ensure that economic gains from AI benefit workers and prevent job displacement. Data centers built or upgraded after the moratorium's termination must not increase consumer utility bills, harm the environment, or receive government subsidies. Affected communities must have the power to approve or reject data center construction or upgrades. The Secretary of Energy is required to submit quarterly reports to Congress and make them publicly available, detailing various aspects of AI data centers. These reports must include information on financial vehicles, water and energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, wastewater discharge, cooling chemicals, noise levels, wages, job creation, and agreements with government entities. The Secretary of Energy has the authority to verify information related to the moratorium and reporting requirements through means such as subpoenas and inspections.

What does EXPORT CONTROLS ON COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE HARDWARE. of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This section establishes export controls on computing infrastructure hardware. The term 'computing infrastructure hardware' includes semiconductors, integrated circuits, and products containing integrated circuits, such as computers and data storage systems. The definitions of 'export,' 'in-country transfer,' and 'reexport' are derived from section 1742 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. The Secretary of Commerce is required to prohibit the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of computing infrastructure hardware. These prohibitions apply to transfers to countries lacking comparable laws to those described in section 3(b)(1) of the Act. The prohibitions also apply to transfers to individuals within those countries. Restricted end-uses include use in artificial intelligence data centers and the training or deployment of artificial intelligence models at scale.

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Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act

Last updated: 6/24/2026 · Introduced: 6/24/2026

Author: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill imposes a moratorium on the construction or upgrading of new artificial intelligence data centers until laws are enacted ensuring federal review and approval of AI products for safety and civil rights, and protecting workers from job displacement.
The bill establishes export controls on computing infrastructure hardware, including semiconductors and computers, to prevent transfers to countries lacking comparable AI safety regulations or to individuals for restricted AI uses.
The Secretary of Energy must submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing various aspects of AI data centers, including energy usage, emissions, and job creation, with the authority to verify this information.

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 3 more.

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