Sign Up
S 1783 United States Senate · 117th Congress

Maintaining Access to Essential Services Act of 2021

Summary
Maintaining Access to Essential Services Act of 2021 This bill establishes several loan programs to assist households with paying utility bills for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater management, energy (e.g., electricity, natural gas, or propane), and internet services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Under the programs, the utilities may apply for loans that are equal to the amount of the payment shortfall from their customers during the emergency.
Issues: ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides loans to cover energy utility payment shortfalls, protecting consumers from disconnection during pandemic; directly supports access to energy services.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly includes internet services in utility assistance programs, directly expanding access during public health emergency.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced May 20, 2021 Last action May 20, 2021
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 20, 2021
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
upper
May 20, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jeff Merkley
Jeff Merkley
DDemocratic
OR
n/a