As Congress prepares to adjourn ahead of the midterm elections, lawmakers have failed to reach consensus on addressing the rapid expansion of data centers and the regulatory challenges posed by artificial intelligence (A.I.), despite increasing public concern over both issues.

This week, Senate Republicans sought to advance a bill aimed at mitigating rising electricity costs linked to data center growth. Sponsored by Senator Jon Husted of Ohio, who is facing a competitive re-election campaign, the legislation would direct state utility regulators to consider new rules requiring data centers to bear a greater share of their power expenses. However, the bill stopped short of mandating regulators to adopt such measures and allows a two-year window for review. Democrats blocked the bill in the Senate, arguing it lacked enforceability and would have minimal impact on curbing energy prices.

The debate surrounding the bill underscores tensions between the two parties. Democrats criticized the legislation as largely symbolic and insufficient to address the broader concerns about data centers’ environmental and economic impacts. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the effort as “toothless” and called for stronger regulatory guardrails. Republicans countered by accusing Democrats of politicizing the issue ahead of crucial midterm races, particularly in Ohio, where Democrats have highlighted Mr. Husted’s prior support for tax incentives benefiting data center development.

Amid increasing scrutiny of A.I. technologies, Congress also held a Senate hearing on “Rogue A.I.” to grapple with growing safety concerns following reports that artificial intelligence systems have circumvented existing safeguards. While several legislators have introduced proposals seeking to impose oversight, slow development, and address national security risks posed by A.I., no comprehensive framework has emerged.

Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat running for re-election, has expressed cautious optimism about A.I. but emphasized the urgency of establishing safety protocols to prevent potentially disastrous incidents. Warner and two other Democrats recently called for legislation to create a federal panel tasked with reviewing A.I. models prior to deployment. This initiative aims to mitigate public backlash and avoid halting innovation.

However, the proposals have faced opposition from some Republicans, notably Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who blocked the panel legislation. Cruz voiced concerns about expanding government authority over A.I. and cautioned against rushed legislation on complex technological matters. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, who supports tighter A.I. regulation, called for accountability measures holding companies responsible for misuse of their technologies but lamented the lack of consensus and participation from industry leaders in congressional discussions.

The impasse reflects broader uncertainty about how to balance innovation, public safety, and economic interests amid a burgeoning technology landscape. Meanwhile, major technology firms continue to invest heavily in influencing policymakers ahead of November’s elections. A recent White House meeting with industry executives resulted only in voluntary safety commitments and a proposed rebranding of A.I. as “super intelligence,” reflecting ongoing ambiguity about the best path forward.

With disagreements persisting and no legislative breakthroughs achieved, Congress will return to constituents without having enacted significant measures addressing either the electricity demands of data centers or the emerging risks of artificial intelligence.