Small Business Assistance Act of 2001

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 8, 2001

Small Business Assistance Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to make no-interest loans to certain small businesses that: (1) are not covered by a State program limiting retail electricity rates; and (2) are located in California, are business customers of specified utilities, and have specified electric or natural gas usage rates; or (3) are located in other States and have experienced an increase in electricity or natural gas costs of not less than 100 percent. Establishes the Small Business Energy Expense Assistance Fund to fund such loans.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · D–CA

Committees

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 8, 2001
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Feb 8, 2001
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1219-1220)
Feb 8, 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 · Feb 8, 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: Aug 19, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.286 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.

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Discuss S.286, 107th Congress: Small Business Assistance Act of 2001

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/286

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-02-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s286/BILLS-107s286is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:29:35Z. 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.286 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.286 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.

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Discuss S.286, 107th Congress: Small Business Assistance Act of 2001

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/286

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-02-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s286/BILLS-107s286is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:29:35Z. 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.286 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.286 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.286, 107th Congress: Small Business Assistance Act of 2001

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/286

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-02-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s286/BILLS-107s286is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:29:35Z. 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.286 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.286 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.286, 107th Congress: Small Business Assistance Act of 2001

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/286

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2001-02-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s286/BILLS-107s286is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:29:35Z. 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.286 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.