STEP Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 20, 2001

Savings Through Energy Productivity Act, or the STEP Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish the STEP Emergency Rebate Program (STEP), under which the Secretary makes grants to eligible utilities to pay the costs of providing rebates or credits against the amounts of electric bills of customers that reduce the amount of electric energy consumed.Establishes the STEP Fund in the Treasury. Instructs the Secretary to establish a program making no-interest loans to utilities and nonprofit organizations to pay up to 100 percent of the cost of an energy productivity project. Requires an annual accounting by loan recipients.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] · D–WA

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jul 20, 2001
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jul 20, 2001
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jul 20, 2001 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1213 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1213, 107th Congress: STEP Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1213

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-07-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1213/BILLS-107s1213is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1213 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1213 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1213, 107th Congress: STEP Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1213

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-07-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1213/BILLS-107s1213is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1213 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1213 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1213, 107th Congress: STEP Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1213

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-07-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1213/BILLS-107s1213is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1213 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1213 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1213, 107th Congress: STEP Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1213

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-07-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s1213/BILLS-107s1213is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1213 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.