Who Is Frank Pallone? U.S. Representative Profile

Frank Pallone Jr. is a Democratic U.S. Representative from New Jersey who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he is also described as the top Democrat on the House and Energy Committee.

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Pallone has called for a nationwide moratorium on data centers, supported a moratorium on new AI data centers, and advocated for policies to rein in and regulate Big Tech.

Where Frank Pallone Is Now

House of Representatives.

• Current role: Democratic U.S. Representative from New Jersey and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
• Organization: U.S. House of Representatives / House Energy and Commerce Committee
• Known for: Calling for a nationwide moratorium on data centers and supporting a moratorium on new AI data centers
• Recent news: Asking Democratic colleagues for support to serve as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and requesting delays on Medicaid reporting requirements

Data Center Moratorium and Tech Regulation

Rep. Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the House and Energy Committee, has called for a nationwide moratorium on data centers. He also supported a moratorium on new AI data centers.

Pallone stated that Democrats will advance policies to rein in Big Tech, lower costs, expand access to healthcare, protect consumers and the environment, and prioritize clean energy. He also stated that the Democratic party should focus on regulating Big Tech, healthcare, affordability, consumer and environmental protections, and clean energy.

In telecommunications matters, Pallone has been an outspoken critic of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and a key supporter of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.

Committee Leadership and Congressional Role

Pallone serves as the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Pallone stated he would ask Democratic colleagues for support to serve as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and he is expected to become chair of the committee.

Healthcare Priorities and Medicaid Advocacy

Pallone and Senator Ron Wyden wrote to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz requesting an immediate delay of Medicaid paperwork reporting requirements. Pallone and Wyden argued that CMS must use its statutory authority to grant states more time to implement work reporting requirements, and they asked CMS to publicly release state readiness assessments, exemption requests and decisions, and state-level coverage loss data.

Pallone stated that repealing Medicaid cuts and work reporting requirements under H.R. 1 will be a top priority for Democrats in the 120th Congress.

Pallone stated that eliminating healthcare cuts and repealing that aspect of HR 1 is the number one priority, noting the incoming Congress aimed to repeal cuts to the Medicaid program and Affordable Care Act plan subsidies. He stated that the first step is to restore healthcare cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill, shoring up Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and noted he would not be surprised if some Republicans voted with Democrats to restore healthcare cuts.

Sources

• democrats-energycommerce.house.gov
• democrats-energycommerce.house.gov
• rbr.com
• touchdownwire.usatoday.com
• upnorthlive.com
• baltimoresun.com
• newsweek.com

More people pushing back on AI are mapped in our guide to who is fighting AI, and the unions, companies and governments drawing the line are tracked on Fighting Back.