Data centers use water and energy. What information about those uses would the EPA and Energy Information Administration collect and report under S. 5640 if it became law?

We explain the proposal’s separate EPA and EIA branches, including environmental reporting and energy collection and reporting. Collecting information about each data center would not necessarily mean publishing every data center’s raw data.

This episode uses the introduced text and an October 12, 2026 status observation. It describes proposed duties if enacted, not current law or a current status update. The meaning of “50 megawatts each day” remains unresolved; incorporated definitions were checked through 2024, not through 2026.

Official bill text:
https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/s5640/BILLS-119s5640is.xml

Explore Sessions on the Hill:
https://politicaloversight.org/sessions-on-the-hill

AI-generated narration and animated visuals, reviewed and approved by a human.

Who would pay for the power upgrades a large data center needs? H.R. 9340 proposes recovering the full added cost of necessary upgrades from customers who meet its conditions, even if they stop buying power.

The bill calls for authorities to consider the standard. It would not apply automatically nationwide. It also proposes financial backing before the upgrades. The reviewed evidence does not establish savings on household bills.

We explain the September 16, 2026 House-passed text using an October 8 status snapshot. On September 30, the Senate failed to limit debate on whether to take up the bill. This vote, called cloture, did not reject the bill. We describe possible next steps, not an announced plan.

A planned follow-up will look at S. 5640’s proposed public reports on data centers.

This video uses AI-generated narration and animated visuals, with human review and approval.

Explore the episode companion for the transcript, evidence and sources:

https://politicaloversight.org/sessions-on-the-hill/weekly/hr-9340

What could S. 4668 potentially change for college athletes’ earnings and medical coverage? This episode explains selected proposals in the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, including protections for athletes earning money from their name, image and likeness, related reporting requirements, medical coverage and its conditions, and language preserving Title IX.

The Senate passed the amended bill 77–22 on September 28, 2026. Passing the Senate does not make a bill law. This episode covers that version, not the entire bill or any later outcome.

The audio comes from a video with AI-generated narration and animated visuals. A human reviewed and approved the exact V6 video, transcript and captions.

Read the episode companion for the transcript, coverage limits, claims, official sources and corrections.