A group of 14 lawmakers is asking the Trump administration to help out the offshore energy industry amid a decline in oil prices linked to international disputes and the coronavirus pandemic.

The 13 Republicans and one Democrat sent a letter on Friday to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt asking him to reduce or waive royalties for oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico. 

“The Department of the Interior has existing authority to temporarily reduce or eliminate royalties set forth in the leases in the Western and Central Planning Areas of the Gulf of Mexico and other lease areas,” the lawmakers wrote. 

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“We urge you to examine the viability of a temporary reduction in royalties as domestic energy producers weather this combination of an [Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries]-driven price war and an epidemic that is driving millions of people around the world into quarantines of one kind or another,” they added. “Such an action in the short term will help mitigate a price war that is sinking prices and decreasing production.”

Their letter follows a separate action by the Trump administration that boosts the oil industry at large. 

On Thursday, the Energy Department announced that it will buy 30 million barrels of oil from producers to be stored in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The Friday letter was signed by Reps. Dan CrenshawDaniel CrenshawLawmakers ask Trump administration to help Gulf oil and gas producers Annual Congressional Dinner pushed back to June amid coronavirus concerns Pete Davidson noticeably absent from ‘SNL’ after complaints about show MORE (R-Texas), Randy K. Weber (R-Texas), Clay HigginsGlen (Clay) Clay HigginsLawmakers ask Trump administration to help Gulf oil and gas producers Louisiana church defies coronavirus recommendations to hold service for 300 The five dumbest things said about impeachment so far MORE (R-La.), Mike JohnsonJames (Mike) Michael JohnsonLawmakers ask Trump administration to help Gulf oil and gas producers Roberts wrestles with abortion law in high-stakes Louisiana case White House, Republicans blast Pelosi for ripping up copy of Trump speech MORE (R-La.), Bill FloresWilliam (Bill) Hose FloresLawmakers ask Trump administration to help Gulf oil and gas producers Texas kicks off critical battle for House control Democrats push to end confidentiality for oil companies that don’t add ethanol MORE (R-Texas), Chip RoyCharles (Chip) Eugene RoyLawmakers ask Trump administration to help Gulf oil and gas producers House Republicans oppose remote voting during crisis Top GOP post on Oversight draws stiff competition MORE (R-Texas), Bruce WestermanBruce Eugene WestermanLawmakers ask Trump administration to help Gulf oil and gas producers Increased competition, lower costs: A prescription to address medications PRICED out of reach Overnight Energy: New Interior rule would limit scientific studies agency can consider | Panel battles over tree-planting bill | Trump to resume coal leases on public lands MORE (R-Ark.), Ralph Abraham (R-La.), Kevin HernKevin HernConservatives call on Pelosi to cancel August recess Here are the lawmakers who will forfeit their salaries during the shutdown MORE (R-Okla.), Jeff DuncanJeffrey (Jeff) Darren DuncanLawmakers ask Trump administration to help Gulf oil and gas producers House Republicans add Jordan to Intel panel for impeachment probe House votes to block drilling in Arctic refuge MORE (R-S.C.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Michael C. Burgess (R-Texas), Michael Cloud (R-Texas) and Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas). 

“This call for royalty relief on offshore oil and gas will help ensure that the cost of production isn’t more than the price of the commodities. This is especially important for America’s smaller producers – many of whom are based in Texas – who feel the burden of these royalties the most,” Crenshaw’s office said a statement about the letter. 

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The idea of reducing royalties for fossil fuels leases, however, came under fire from some Democrats even before the lawmakers sent their letter. 

Last week, Sens. Bernie SandersBernie SandersBloomberg spent over 0M on presidential campaign Congressional Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses Biden Hillicon Valley: Senators press Amazon over workplace safety amid outbreak | Lyft expands to deliveries | Dems seek election security funds in stimulus package MORE (I-Vt.), Jeff MerkleyJeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyLawmakers ask Trump administration to help Gulf oil and gas producers Overnight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Trump administration prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump MORE (D-Ore.) and Ed MarkeyEdward (Ed) John MarkeyLawmakers ask Trump administration to help Gulf oil and gas producers Overnight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Trump administration prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump MORE (D-Mass.) introduced legislation aiming to prevent the administration from reducing royalty rates for coal, oil or gas recovery. 

“We shouldn’t be producing these dirty fossil fuels at all, much less providing billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to the industry every year,” Sanders said in a statement at the time. 

The three senators also wrote a letter to President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate negotiators near agreement on keeping rebates in coronavirus stimulus package Intel reports going back to January warned of coronavirus threat Congressional Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses Biden MORE last week, saying that giving federal assistance to oil companies “would be a wasteful misuse of government resources that would exacerbate the climate crisis.”

Industry, however, praised the action. 

“Royalty relief will help preserve American energy competitiveness, while ensuring a fair return to taxpayers,” National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito said in a statement. 

Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise operator, said it’s willing to convert some of its unused ships to serve as floating hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic.

“If needed, cruise ships are capable of being quickly provisioned to serve as hospitals with up to 1,000 hospital rooms that can treat patients suffering from less critical, non-COVID-19 conditions,” Carnival said in a press release Thursday. 

“These temporary cruise ship hospital rooms can be quickly converted to install and connect remote patient monitoring devices over the ship’s high-speed network – providing cardiac, respiratory, oxygen saturation and video monitoring capabilities,” the release continued. “The rooms also have bathroom facilities, private balconies with access to sun and fresh air, as well as isolation capabilities, as needed.”

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The offer comes as more cruise ships are temporarily out of commission during the pandemic and medical officials worry the number of coronavirus cases may exceed hospitals’ capacity and overwhelm the health care system. 

That fear has led to the popularization and goal of “flattening the curve,” referring to the effort to stop the rapid spread of a disease and prevent it from overwhelming hospitals and health care providers through social distancing, self-quarantines and limited gatherings.

Hospitals and health care providers have already said they do not have enough of the critical supplies needed to protect doctors and nurses from the coronavirus, including a lack of masks.

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Delivery and take-out options are twice as popular as usual amid the coronavirus, according to data compiled by Yelp.

Yelp said the development grew when people were first urged to avoid large crowds and then accelerated when restaurants were shuttered and forced to offer only delivery or take-out.

“Consumers are responding to fears of infection, social distancing recommendations, and mandated business closures by getting their food from grocery stores or directly from farmers, not from higher-end restaurants,” wrote Carl Bialik, Yelp’s data science editor. “When people do turn to restaurants, it’s overwhelmingly for delivery or takeout, not for dine-in options that until just a week ago were prevalent.”

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The restaurant industry has been turned on its head during the pandemic, with consumer interest in restaurants falling 54 percent, while appetite for fast food institutions and grocery stores shot up 64 percent and 102 percent, respectively.

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The items with the biggest upticks in consumer interest are water and guns, which jumped 166 percent and 360 percent, respectively.

Yelp’s data showed that the changes in consumer interest are more pronounced in the Northeast and more muted in the Midwest and Southeast. 

The shifts come as people are urged to avoid groups of more than 10 and to perform “social distancing,” or staying six feet away from others, as a way to curb the spread of the coronavirus. 

More than 18,500 people have confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. and 214 people have died as of Friday evening, according to The New York Times’s tally.

Target announced Friday that it would give employees a $2-per-hour pay raise, rolling out new benefits and bonuses as its staffers work to keep shelves stocked during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a press release, the company said it would give the raise to staff until at least May 2, making its new minimum wage $15 per hour. Target also said 20,000 hourly workers who manage individual departments within stores would be given bonuses between $250 and $1,500. 

Target follows companies such as Amazon and Walmart, which have increased wages or given bonuses in recent days, as retail firms face a surge in shoppers as Americans stock up on essentials so they can quarantine and self-isolate as the coronavirus spreads.

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According to Target, it’s investing a total of $300 million in new initiatives to compensate and thank employees who are facing major crowds and still coming into work during the pandemic. 

“We continue to experience incredible demand across our business, and Target’s ability to help our guests in this unprecedented time would not be possible without the strength of our team. I am proud and humbled by the dedication and humanity they show to our guests every day,” CEO Brian Cornell said in the press release. “Increasing their compensation for a job incredibly well done and ensuring continued compensation for those who need to care for themselves and their families is a reflection of our company’s values and simply the right thing to do.”

On top of the pay raise and bonuses, the company also announced a new paid leave option for staff who have underlying health conditions or who are 65 or older. Under the plan, those employees would be able to take 30 days paid leave so they can stay home.

Target also announced a $10 million donation to fund coronavirus relief efforts spread out to multiple different organizations both local and national.  

There are now reportedly more than 13,000 cases of COVID-19 in the United States. Cities and states across the country are issuing shelter-in-place or similar orders instructing people to stay at home and minimize social contact to prevent the illness from spreading at a rate that would surpass the nation’s hospital capacity. 

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The top U.S. commander in Europe said Friday that 2,600 military personnel on the continent were “of concern” for possible exposure to the coronavirus.

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Gen. Tod Wolters, commander of U.S. European Command, told reporters that not all the individuals were in isolation, but the Pentagon later clarified that they are “in self-isolation as a precaution due to travel or other reasons.”

“These individuals are not necessarily sick, but may have been exposed and are doing their due diligence following health preventative measures,” according to the statement.

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The 2,600 individuals include “those who may have been tested, but not positive.”

The statement did not go into detail about how the individuals were being isolated.

The Pentagon did immediately respond to a request for comment.

Wolters said that 35 of the 72,000 U.S. forces in Europe have tested positive for the illness known as COVID-19.

The Pentagon has labored to prevent the spread of the coronavirus within its ranks, especially with forces in high-risk countries like Italy, which had the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths in the world as of this week.

The 35 U.S. military cases in Europe account for more than half of the 67 service members who have the virus globally. There are now 124 military-related coronavirus cases, including 15 Defense Department civilians, 26 dependents and 16 contractors.

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Wolters said he has spoken by phone and video conference with those who have tested positive for coronavirus, as well as those who “fall into the category of concern.”

“Those who have tested positive and those who are in quarantine are in good shape,” Wolters told reporters on a call from command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. 

“My biggest challenge for those that have been quarantined for 14 days, as you can well imagine, is making sure that they understand that they, by golly, will adhere to the tactics, techniques and procedures and the rules and regulations that we’ve put out.”

Wolters also said he has canceled several readiness exercises, scaled back by 60 percent of the continent’s largest multinational war game Defender-Europe 20, and regularly speaks to NATO partners as the situation unfolds.

“U.S. European Command, together with all our NATO allies and partners, is combating the coronavirus with extreme intensity,” he said.

The U.S. government will buy 30 million barrels of oil from producers amid a financial downturn for the industry. 

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced Thursday it would conduct the sales to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), fulfilling a pledge by President TrumpDonald John TrumpOn The Money: McConnell introduces third coronavirus relief proposal | Democrats seek bigger stimulus with less aid for business | Washington scrambles to prevent unemployment spike Hillicon Valley: Twitter targets coronavirus misinformation | Facebook bans sanitizer, virus test ads to prevent price gouging | DHS defines critical jobs during outbreak | Remote working apps surge Overnight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru MORE to offer assistance to the oil industry as prices plummet with the twin threats of the coronavirus and a pricing war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. 

“It is a common sense move. Everyone who has done any version of investing knows you try to buy low and sell high. The same goes with filling the SPR over time,” Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said in a call with reporters.

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This initial purchase comes as oil has fallen to about $25 per barrel, down from roughly $50 a month ago and a steep decline from the average $60 pricetag for oil already in the reserve.

The 30 million barrel purchase announced Thursday is a far cry from Trump’s Friday pledge to fill America’s emergency fuel supply “right up to the top,” maxing out at 77 million barrels. 

But DOE said it plans to hold additional sales, perhaps as soon as in two to three months, and is preparing to ask Congress for $3 billion to fill its fuel reserves.

The purchase comes as Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinSenate GOP plan provides massive tax-relief, loans for business Overnight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak GOP plan provides ,200 in cash assistance amid coronavirus MORE floated spending as much as $20 billion to assist the oil industry, figures Brouillette said the two had not discussed.  

Stocking up on oil will no doubt anger some Democrats, who have repeatedly warned that coronavirus aid should include no lifelines for the fossil fuel industry.

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“Diverting public funds to bail out this industry will do nothing to stop the spread of this deadly virus or provide relief to those in need,” House lawmakers wrote in a Tuesday letter spearheaded by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.). “A bailout tells the American public that fossil fuel investors can rely on U.S. taxpayers to cover their bills when the industry’s corporate executives’ risky investments don’t pan out.”

Democrats in the Senate echoed a similar sentiment, fearing that money spent propping up the oil industry will accelerate climate change.

“Using federal assistance—including low-interest loans, royalty relief, tax breaks, or strategic petroleum reserve purchases—in order to prop up oil companies would be a wasteful misuse of government resources that would exacerbate the climate crisis,” Sens. Ed MarkeyEdward (Ed) John MarkeyOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Trump administration prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump Senate Democrat introduces legislation requiring permanent pandemic coordinator MORE (D-Mass.), Jeff MerkleyJeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Trump administration prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump Democrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus MORE (D-Ore.) and Bernie SandersBernie SandersGillibrand endorses Biden for president Overnight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden moves to unify party before general election MORE (I-Vt.) wrote in a letter to Trump.

Purchasing 30 million barrels now, even with record low oil prices, would still carry a significant cost, coming in at just below $1 billion.

But Brouillette told reporters he feels confident he has the backing from Congress as it weighs future coronavirus relief packages. 

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Numerous Republicans have already expressed support for the purchase — House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Congress tiptoes toward remote voting Photo of Trump’s notes shows ‘Chinese’ virus written over ‘coronavirus’ MORE (R-Calif.) pegged it as “the right call.”

And when asked if he had personally heard pushback from Democrats, Brouilette simply said, “No, I have not.”

The offer to purchase crude is only open to small- and mid-sized U.S. companies with fewer than 5,000 employees. The oil itself must be produced within the U.S. as well. 

With current prices, the U.S. could fill its petroleum reserve with less than $2.1 billion but Brouillette said he expects prices to begin to rise as coronavirus’s hold on the economy settles down, increasing the overall cost of filling the SPR. He also said the department may limit future purchases if oil prices rise rapidly, potentially due to a resolution between Saudi Arabia and Russia. 

“We have every expectation that once we’re beyond this coronavirus pandemic we’re going to see a very robust upturn in demand and very strong economy coming back, but at this point in time we don’t know exactly when that will occur so we’re just trying to be as cautious and conservative as possible,” he said. 

—Updated at 2:07 p.m.

The teenager praised the former England star’s work around the new MLS club while admitting he’d love to see Lionel Messi in Florida

Inter Miami’s young star Julian Carranza is thrilled to be working with David Beckham at the new MLS franchise – but he would be even happier if the legend joined in the club’s kickabouts! 

Carranza, who has represented Argentina at Under-20 level, swapped Banfield for Miami in January as he became one of the team’s very first signings.

He is one of several South Americans on the Inter roster, alongside compatriots Matias Pellegrini and Jorge Figal, Venezuelan defender Cristian Makoun, formerly on Juventus’ books, and Colombia U-23 international Andres Reyes. 

#AlertePollutionRivières ou sols contaminés, déchets industriels abandonnés… Vous vivez à proximité d’un site pollué ?
Cliquez ici pour nous alerter !À Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), le début d’été a été très chaud. Après l’air étouffant de la canicule, c’est la mer qui est montée en température avec 26°C dans l’eau, pour le plus grand bonheur des baigneurs.La méditerranée est-elle en surchauffe ? Les températures n’atteignent pas des records, mais il est rare d’atteindre ces valeurs aussi tôt dans la saison.Certaines espèces en danger ?La canicule et l’absence de vent ont fait grimper la température de la mer en surface. Si le phénomène perdure, certaines espèces seront en danger. “La chaleur va se propager en profondeur et ça va atteindre des écosystèmes qui ont peu l’habitude de voir de l’eau chaude supérieure à 15 ou 18 degrés. C’était déjà arrivé en 1999 avec un épisode de chaleur important et des coraux sont morts (…) ça a affecté des espèces emblématiques de la Méditerranée“, détaille Patrick Raimbault, chercheur à l’Institut méditerranéen d’océanologie. Les scientifiques estiment que la mer Méditerranée devrait gagner deux degrés en moyenne, d’ici à 2100.Le JT

• JT de 13h du samedi 6 juillet 2019 L’intégrale

Les autres sujets du JT

• 1
  

  Tour de France : début de la compétition à Bruxelles, capitale du cyclisme

• 2
  

  Tour de France : l’hommage à la légende Eddy Merckx

• 3
  

  États-Unis : la Californie frappée par un séisme de magnitude 7,1

• 4
  

  Climat : un record historique de chaleur enregistré en Alaska

• 5
  

  Haute-Vienne : quand la tonte de moutons devient un sport de haut niveau

• 6
  

  Culture : les rendez-vous théâtre et cinéma à ne pas manquer

• 7
  

  Le bistrot des halles du Cap-Ferret, une institution pour les vacanciers

Condamné après la publication en 2013 d’un article jugé blasphématoire envers le prophète de l’islam, Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed Mkheïtir, 36 ans, s’est de nouveau repenti cette semaine. C’était la condition posée par des chefs religieux pour sa libération.Comme je l’avais annoncé au début de 2014 et comme je l’ai répété à toutes les occasions qui s’offraient à moi devant les tribunaux, je réaffirme ici mon repentir devant Allah, le Seigneur des MondesMohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed Mkheïtir, blogueur mauritanienFacebook(Post en arabe sur Facebook)Une longue attenteCette pénitence publique a été exigée par une commission d’oulémas mise en place par le président mauritanien sortant Ould Ben AbdelAziz. Il s’agit de “préparer l’opinion nationale” à la libération du blogueur, comme l’a expliqué à l’AFP un responsable mauritanien. En 2013, sa publication avait provoqué d’importantes manifestations dans le pays où on réclamait son exécution pour blasphème. Depuis, Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed Mkheïtir s’est repenti, il a échappé à une condamnation à mort, mais n’a toujours pas retrouvé la liberté. Il est en prison depuis janvier 2014.Click Here: Golf Equipment Online

La secrétaire d’Etat aux sports trace son chemin, en rebelle. Elle s’est exprimée le 25 septembre à Washington.

Elle a beaucoup hésité avant d’accepter l’invitation du Black Caucus, ce groupe de parlementaires noirs américains. «Je me suis demandé comment cela allait être interprété, je ne voulais pas que cela apparaissent comme quelque chose d’ethnique», confie-t-elle.

A-t-elle aussi songé que le fait de croiser

– qui a prévu d’assister au dîner de clôture de ce rassemblement – pourrait agacer Nicolas Sarkozy? L’entente entre les deux Présidents est tout juste… cordiale.

Au diable la prudence,

a évoqué «la diversité à la française», le 25 septembre au Capitole de Washington (ci-dessous avec le révérend Jesse Jackson lors de cette visite). Le naturel toujours. La secrétaire d’Etat aux sports a beau se savoir sous surveillance présidentielle, elle trace son sillon. Souvent bravache, ce qui lui a joué des tours et a failli lui coûter sa place au gouvernement.

«Elle a pris la grosse tête et Nicolas (Sarkozy) ne lui a toujours pas pardonné d’avoir refusé d’être tête de liste aux Européennes en Ile-de- France, lâche un ténor de l’UMP. Le lien est rompu. » « Faux, rétorque-t-elle : la dernière fois que nous nous sommes parlé, je l’ai remercié de sa confiance, et il m’a répondu : “Travaille bien et tout ira bien. Ne me déçois pas.”.»

Rama Yade s’exécute donc. Avec fougue. Une constante depuis ses plus tendres années. « J’ai pratiqué le basket en club, raconte ainsi la secrétaire d’Etat. Mais j’étais trop passionnée, comme souvent, et mes parents m’ont demandé d’arrêter pour que je me concentre sur mes études. » Fan de foot depuis toujours – son joueur préféré est Laurent Blanc –, la panthère black compte donner du relief à son nouveau poste. Elle soutient avec force la candidature de la France à l’Euro 2016. Apprend… Vite.

«En politique, il y a des codes, des règles et de la violence. On n’est pas chez les Bisounours ! Mais j’ai besoin d’affectif et pas de relations froides et mécaniques. Je suis attachée à

ou à Nicolas Sarkozy.» (Ci dessous avec le Président et Joseph Kabila, président de la République Démocratique du Congo).

Est-elle plus prudente pour autant ? Le 13 septembre, sur la scène de la Halle Freyssinet, elle fut la seule personnalité de l’UMP à ne pas applaudir Brice Hortefeux – le meilleur ami du Président –, restant même les bras croisés.

Une petite protestation silencieuse, après la polémique sur les improbables propos du ministre de l’Intérieur. « Sa force, c’est qu’elle n’a pas changé d’un iota depuis qu’elle est ministre, assure son ami Fayçal Douhane, membre du conseil national du PS. Elle a gardé les mêmes copains, s’habille pareil, et reste intransigeante sur l’essentiel ». Les Français ne s’y trompent pas. La jeune femme de trente-deux ans caracole en tête des sondages.

Forte de cette popularité et du soutien des siens, Rama ose encore. Mais avant chaque grande décision, elle consulte sa maman, et son époux, Joseph Zimet, le fils d’un célèbre chanteur yiddish, qui travaille à la direction de la mémoire, du patrimoine et des archives, dépendant du ministère de la Défense.

Elle apprécie le recul de cet historien, spécialiste de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, qui vit dans un monde de livres et de réflexion, quand la politique s’abîme parfois dans l’écume du quotidien. Rama, elle, tisse sa propre histoire.

Candice Nedelec

Article paru dans Gala, septembre 2009