119th Congress

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) spoke about the impacts of data centers on Northern Virginia families at a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing. Calling for a national strategic plan on data center development, he referenced recent JLARC findings, electricity provider reports, and community outreach that reflects data center growth will increase utility bills, require more power lines in populated areas, and use up green space and water.

The congressman shared his district’s experience as a cautionary tale of how communities can be impacted without strategic planning. While the impacts of building data centers in the district initially appeared beneficial, such as lowering property taxes and funding schools, the long-term costs have become evident. The rapid proliferation of data centers has led to significant challenges for Northern Virginia communities: rising energy prices, air quality concerns, encroachment on neighborhoods, schools, and public green spaces, and a strain on local infrastructure.

Congressman Subramanyam emphasized that it is critical to consider these impacts and establish a nationwide strategy for development that benefits all residents and allows communities and data centers to coexist.

Please see below for remarks as delivered. You may watch and download his committee remarks here. 

I appreciate some of the discussion today, and I think I understand that data storage is more important than ever, as we have AI and blockchain becoming more prevalent and accessible. 

But, I want to tell you a cautionary tale about my community. 

My district is home to more data centers than any other district in the country; in fact, if my district were a country, it would have more data centers than almost every other country in the world. 

If you look at this, ten data centers usually use more power than all of D.C., and we have more than 200, with another 100 planned. 

Many years ago, when these data centers were approved, they seemed like a great idea at the time, talk about lower property taxes and revenue for the counties, but our community is paying the price now. 

We are a cautionary tale for the rest of the country.  

The power needed for these data centers is creating a huge problem for our community. We have power lines right now in Ashburn and Leesburg and all over Loudoun County.

Leesburg, Lovettsville, Fauquier, Rappahannock counties are facing similar proposals of building transmission lines for data centers that are, quite frankly, invasive and not great for the communities. 

We are paying the price now for many of these data centers. In the next five years alone, data centers could increase customers’ bills by up to $276 a year, and people’s utility bills may double in the next seven to ten years just to power data centers. 

The environmental impact is real, as well. These green spaces are disappearing, pollution is rising, and water supplies are being stretched thin. 

It’s making reaching our clean energy goals in Virginia nearly impossible; we set those in place. Even historic places like Manassas Battlefield are under threat, as well.

It’s also a security risk; putting all the nation’s data centers in one place is a huge problem. 

You look at the Ukraine war, when Russia failed to hack Ukraine’s telecom networks, what did they target? They targeted the data centers. 

And so, Northern Virginia is becoming more of a target than Washington D.C. itself. 

That’s why we have a lot of people in our community standing up and fighting back. 

The Digital Gateway in Prince William County, for instance, was blocked from moving forward by passionate citizens standing up for the health of their communities, and equally passionate citizens are fighting proposals in Fauquier County, Rappahannock County, and other parts of Loudoun. 

There was one local high school student that started a petition about a power line going through Ashburn, she said, “Our county is meant to be a place where families can thrive, where kids can be happy and healthy, and where communities can grow, not an industrial zone filled with data centers and high-voltage power lines.

So, what I’m asking today is let’s be smart about how we’re deploying data storage as AI and blockchain become the norm. 

I’m calling for a national strategic plan on how we deploy more data storage that takes into account the impact on communities. 

It needs to be thoughtful—we need to be thoughtful about how we handle the unintended consequences on communities like how it will affect costs, and people’s utility bills? How will it impact our environment? How do we ensure that the security of these data centers is sufficient? 

We need to be thoughtful about data centers and data storage and their long-term impacts. 

One can support innovation, but it doesn’t have to come at the cost of our communities. 

I yield back. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the COST of Relocations Act to push back against President Trump and his administration’s relentless effort to relocate federal agencies and decimate their workforces. The legislation would require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress in order to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agency’s mission.

“We must stop the Trump administration’s politically motivated attempts to waste taxpayer dollars by unnecessarily moving federal agencies,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “Our bill ensures that before any agency is moved, we can protect the American people by doing a thorough analysis based on logic, the best interest of taxpayers, and the agency’s mission.  These decisions should be based on what’s best for the American people, not political retribution.”

“Across government, federal agencies and the civil servants who power them provide essential services for Americans across the country. Abruptly uprooting those agencies for political reasons not only endangers their critical missions, it’s also a waste of taxpayer dollars. This bill ensures that big decisions like these are made thoughtfully and driven by the best interests of the American people and their tax dollars,” said Senator Van Hollen.

During the first Trump administration, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) relocated both the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) from Washington, DC to Kansas City, MO. A GAO study of these relocations found that these relocations had significant impacts on both agencies’ staffing and productivity, including:

1. The loss of over a third of each agency’s permanent full-time staff following the announcement of the relocation in 2018.
2. A significant loss of experience, with staff with more than two years of experience declining from 83% of both agencies’ combined workforces in 2018 to 27% in 2021.
3. Declines in productivity, with ERS issuing fewer key reports and NIFA taking over a month longer to process and fund competitive grants in 2019.

GAO also found that USDA did not follow many leading practices for agency relocations, including a failure to consult with its employees at any point during the process and the exclusion of several key variables, including employee attrition, in its economic analysis to support the relocations. Both agencies have made positive improvements in these areas under the Biden administration, but the damage has already been done and many experienced, dedicated federal workers were essentially removed from their jobs.

In a similar situation, the GAO also concluded that the Bureau of Land Management did not conduct a full cost benefit analysis when it relocated its workforce out of the North Capital Region in 2019, and the Department of the Interior’s Inspector General called the agency “misleading” in its justification of the move. 

This legislation will ensure that agencies seeking to relocate conduct an analysis in line with the federal guidelines of best practices for conducting cost-benefit analyses. These standards look not only at the quantitative data, such as the costs of real estate and staffing, but also qualitative metrics such as employee attrition and the short- and long-term impacts of the agency’s ability to carry out its mission. The analysis would be made public as well as submitted to the agency’s Inspector General for review.

Congress and taxpayers deserve to know how agency relocations will benefit the American people.

The COST of Relocations Act is supported by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), along with Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD-5), Gerry Conolly (D-VA-11), Don Beyer (D-VA-8), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-4), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-3), Bobby Scott (D-VA-3), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-7), Andre Carson (D-IN-7), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-8), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-6), Dina Titus (D-NV-1), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12).

The legislation is supported by American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Partnership for Public Service, Project on Government Oversight (POGO), and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam and Senator Chris Van Hollen held a press conference with their Democratic colleagues, Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD-5), Don Beyer (D-VA-8), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-3), and Eugene Vindman (D-VA-7) to discuss this legislation. Video of their remarks can be watched here. 

A former Policy Advisor to President Barack Obama, Congressman Subramanyam served in the Virginia General Assembly since first getting elected in 2019. In Richmond, Subramanyam founded the bipartisan "Commonwealth Caucus” – a bipartisan group of legislators focused on finding common ground. He passed landmark legislation to lower toll costs for commuters, issue refunds to overcharged consumers, combat the rise in gun violence, and ensure all students have access to the best educational opportunities. He is a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and a Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, and a member of the House’s Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Subramanyam served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Loudoun. He lives in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife, Miranda, and their two daughters, Maya (5) and Nina (3). 

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Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, called on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign. 

“It is an indisputable fact that Secretary Hegseth shared classified, highly detailed military plans on a non-secure public messaging app to a group that inexplicably included a journalist,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “These actions violated several federal laws and put our military and our country at risk.” 

“Our national security leadership has betrayed the trust of our men and women in uniform and is making our allies question whether they should share intelligence with us. Instead of taking responsibility for his actions, Secretary Hegseth has doubled down on his reckless behavior and made us vulnerable to our adversaries. The American people deserve better leadership. Secretary Hegseth should resign.”

In a piece in The Atlantic, it was revealed that the White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added a journalist to a confidential group chat where they coordinated military plans and strategy on Signal, a commercial and unsecure public messaging application. The plans Secretary Hegseth disseminated in the group chat were classified and their substance only permitted for discussion is a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities, or SCIF.

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Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks (D-NY) introduced the bipartisan Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act. This bill designates Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, who are suffering persecution at the hands of the Chinese government, as priority refugees and expedites their ability to apply for asylum in the United States.

“The brutal persecution of Uyghurs by the Chinese government is a human rights crisis,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “I have personally heard from Uyghur constituents in my district about their deep concerns for their relatives attempting to flee atrocities. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan initiative to provide those enduring unthinkable oppression with a pathway to expedited refugee status and asylum.”

“The Uyghur Genocide perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party is one of the most horrific crimes against humanity we have ever witnessed,” said Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar. “Our refugee system is designed to provide protection to those who need it most. We should prioritize those that are able to escape the systematic persecution and torture Uyghurs and other oppressed minorities are suffering from in Xinjiang.”

“Congress has been instrumental in calling out the PRC’s genocide against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, and now it is time we act to provide them with greater protection,” said Congressman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “The U.S. has a responsibility to help Uyghurs seeking to escape these atrocities by expanding refugee pathways and resolving the backlog in Uyghur asylum cases.”

“The Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act could not be more urgently needed. As the People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to surveil Uyghurs abroad and pressure other countries to forcibly deport them back to genocide, countless Uyghurs are left living in constant fear, anxiously waiting for asylum and refugee status,” said Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs. “This legislation not only grants P-2 refugee status but also prioritizes diplomatic engagement with third countries hosting Uyghurs, ensuring their safety from PRC coercion. By passing this bi-partisan bill, the United States reaffirms its commitment to defending human rights and protecting those escaping persecution. Campaign for Uyghurs fully supports this bill and urges Congress to act without delay.”

“It is not enough to condemn China’s atrocities; the United States must also ensure that Uyghurs are given a safe refuge,” said Julie Millsap from No Business with Genocide. “We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Subramanyam for his leadership on this critical issue.”

“The U.S. should make it a high priority to rescue at-risk Uyghurs who have escaped China’s genocide,” said Omer Kanat, Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project. “We strongly endorse Rep. Suhas Subramanyam's bill to make it happen.”

The bipartisan legislation would provide Priority 2 (P-2) designation to Uyghurs seeking to escape the horrific repression currently being waged by the Chinese Communist Party. P-2 designation is used for those refugees of special humanitarian concern to the U.S. who have pressing need for resettlement and swift access to the U.S. asylum process. The bill also seeks to protect Uyghur refugees who have fled to countries outside of China besides the U.S. by directing the U.S. Secretary of State to prioritize diplomatic efforts in those countries, who often face intense pressure from the Chinese government to extradite Uyghurs back to China. Just last month, Thailand deported more than 40 Uyghurs to China, where they will likely face persecution, imprisonment, torture, and other crimes against humanity.

The U.S. government has deemed the oppression of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities by the Chinese government as genocide. The years-long systematic persecution has included the arbitrary detention of an estimated one million Uyghurs with evidence of forced labor, forced sterilization, torture, and denial of cultural and religious practices. Congressman Subramanyam’s district in Northern Virginia is home to one of the largest Uyghur diaspora populations in the U.S.

The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Gerald Connolly (D-VA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Don Beyer (D-VA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Zachary Nunn (R-IA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Dina Titus (D-NV), Seth Moulton (D-MA), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). 

Campaign for Uyghurs, Uyghur Human Rights Project, No Business for Genocide, and American Muslim and Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council have endorsed the legislation.

The full text of the Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act can be found here.

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Washington, D.C. — Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, and Congressman William Timmons, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, are opening an investigation into the U.S. military’s use of airspace in the National Capital Region.

This investigation follows the mid-air collision of a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on January 29, 2025, which claimed the lives of sixty-seven people. 

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers request a member-level briefing on the circumstances surrounding the event and what measures the U.S. military is taking to ensure calamities of this nature do not occur in the future.

“Washington, D.C.’s airspace is among the most complex and heavily regulated in the nation. DCA operates within the tightly controlled Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ), making it one of the busiest and most sensitive airspaces in the country,” wrote the lawmakers. “DoD plays a critical role in managing and securing this airspace, with military aircraft frequently conducting operations in and around the National Capital Region.”

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there have been thirty near-collisions in midair since 1987 around DCA, with one third of those incidents involving military aircraft and seven involving helicopters. Initial reports of the January 29 crash indicated a potential miscommunication between DCA air traffic control and the pilots of the UH-60 when the pilots were instructed to pass behind the incoming Canadair Regional Jet 700 (CRJ). Additionally, the crew of the UH-60 reportedly were wearing night vision goggles which may have impaired the pilots’ peripheral vision.

“As authorities continue to assess the circumstances of the incident, it will be critical to identify any contributing factors and ensure mitigation measures are implemented to enhance future airspace safety,” continued the lawmakers. “To assist with the Committee’s oversight of this matter, we request a member-level briefing as soon as possible but no later than April 1, 2025.”

Click here to read the letter to Secretary Hegseth.

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"I am heartbroken to hear of Representative Raul Grijalva's passing.

His dedication to Arizona was inspiring and his commitment to his constituents was admirable.

He will be deeply missed by all of us here in Congress.

My prayers go out to his family and friends during this hard time."

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“Our community is devastated by the disappearance of Sudiksha. I recently met with her family and learned about her contributions to the community and her dedication as a daughter, sister, and friend. 

I share in their profound desire to see her come home and join them in requesting that all agencies involved in the investigation expedite their efforts.

As this investigation continues, the family has requested that people respect their privacy and space as they navigate this difficult time. In particular, they ask that people not post videos, pictures, or unsubstantiated claims about Sudiksha, especially surveillance footage of her in the Dominican Republic. 

Instead, please keep Sudiksha and her family in your prayers while this investigation continues. 

Thank you to all the people in our community who have offered their support and time to Sudiksha’s family.”

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“I came to Congress to deliver results for our community and build a stronger country. My constituents expect Congress to lower costs, build a strong economy, keep us safe and healthy, and support working families, including the tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors who live in our district. 

Unfortunately, this partisan funding bill delivers on none of these things. This proposal enables the illegal, unconstitutional actions of this administration that have already thrown the lives of tens of thousands into turmoil. It will also drive-up costs, make us less safe, and undermine the health of every American. 

Instead of making affordable housing more obtainable, this bill will kick thousands of families out of their homes.

Instead of honoring the pact we made with our veterans to ensure their wellbeing, this bill cuts tens of billions of dollars for their care.

Instead of upholding Congress’ power of the purse, this bill will surrender congressional authority and give President Trump and DOGE a blank check to engage in unrestrained corruption.

I will be voting against this bill and, instead, I call on the House to pass legislation to keep the government open and immediately resume work on bipartisan, full-year appropriations bills. A bipartisan plan will keep us safe, care for our most vulnerable, and enable our communities to thrive and prosper.

That’s what I was sent to Congress to do.”

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