Olympia Snowe

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) introduced legislation Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston)Thursday that will create a grant system for states to help them cope with rising energy costs.

The bill, the "Emergency Energy Response Act of 2008" was presented by Kerry and U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Intending to help states cope with soaring energy costs of heating oil, natural gas and diesel facing consumers and state budgets, the bill will create a grant system so states can develop and implement response plans.