II 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3282 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 17, 2008 Ms. Snowe (for herself and Mr. Kerry) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide assistance to States to establish and implement response plans to address rising heating oil, natural gas, diesel, and other energy costs, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Emergency Energy Response Act of 2008.
2.
Grants to States for response plans for rising energy costs
Subtitle B of title I of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 616) is amended by adding at the end the following:
129.
Grants to States for response plans for rising energy costs
(a)
In general
The Secretary shall make grants to States to pay the Federal share of the cost of establishing and implementing response plans to address rising heating oil, natural gas, diesel, and other energy costs. (b)
Use
A grant under this section may be used by a State— (1)to provide heating shelters for communities; (2)to provide energy assistance and information to elderly individuals, consumers, and small business concerns; (3)to provide information to individuals and small business concerns concerning State resources for individuals struggling with rising energy costs; and (4)to otherwise address rising heating oil, natural gas, diesel, and other energy costs, as determined by the State and approved by the Secretary. (c)
Allocation
The Secretary shall allocate grants to States under this section using a formula established by the Secretary that is based on State population and per capita expenditures for energy. (d)
Federal share
The Federal share of the cost of establishing a response plan under this section shall be not more than 50 percent. (e)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.
.