Social media giant Facebook is launching a massive voter information campaign on both its platform and Instagram in the hope of registering 4 million Americans to vote before November’s general election.

In a USA Today op-ed, Facebook founder and CEO Mark ZuckerbergMark Elliot ZuckerbergHillicon Valley: Zuckerberg expresses ‘disgust,’ keeps policies | New doomsday cyber bills | QAnon follower favored for congressional seat Big Tech’s artificial intelligence aristocracy Zuckerberg, Chan say they’re ‘disgusted’ by Trump’s ‘incendiary’ Facebook rhetoric MORE called November’s election “unlike any other.”

“It was already going to be a heated campaign, and that was before the pandemic — and before the killing of George Floyd and so many others forced us yet again to confront the painful reality of systemic racism in America,” Zuckerberg wrote. “People want accountability, and in a democracy the ultimate way we do that is through voting.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Zuckerberg has received considerable flak over the years for Facebook’s seemingly laissez-faire approach to monitoring and removing misinformation and hate speech. Most recently, critics of the billionaire bristled when he said that Facebook “shouldn’t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online,” after Twitter fact-checked a pair of President TrumpDonald John TrumpHouse Democrat warns of potential staff purge at US media agency Judge denies request to stop Trump rally due to coronavirus concerns Fauci on coronavirus infections: ‘We’re still in a first wave’ MORE‘s tweets.

The billionaire acknowledged this, saying in the op-ed: “I know many people want us to moderate and remove more of their content. We have rules against speech that will cause imminent physical harm or suppress voting, and no one is exempt from them. But accountability only works if we can see what those seeking our votes are saying, even if we viscerally dislike what they say.”

He added that “platforms like Facebook can play a positive role in this election by helping Americans use their voice where it matters most — by voting.”

The company’s new Voter Information Center will appear at the top of users’ Facebook and Instagram feeds, according to a blog post by Naomi Gleit, Facebook’s Vice President of product management and social impact.

The feature will include, among other things, posts from “verified local election authorities with announcements and changes to the voting process” as well as “[g]uidance on registration and who’s eligible to vote.”

Click Here: camiseta river plate

Gleit signaled that the Voter Information Center should be up and running by July.

A group of 30 senators from both sides of the aisle on Monday urged leadership to make permanent the expansion of telehealth services that has been undertaken during the coronavirus pandemic.

The letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell wants vote on police reform bill before July 4 Overnight Health Care: FDA withdraws emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine | Surging coronavirus cases raise fears of new lockdowns | Trump on coronavirus: ‘If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any’ Senate GOP unlikely to bring up police reform bill before July 4 break MORE (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerBlack lawmakers rally behind Engel in primary fight Jones, Sessions spar over renaming of military bases Democrats rip Trump rollback of LGBTQ protections amid Pride Month MORE (D-N.Y.) calls for provisions from the CONNECT for Health Act included in previous COVID-19 legislation be extended after the public health emergency is over.

“Americans have benefited significantly from this expansion of telehealth and have come to rely on its availability,” said the lawmakers led by Sens. Brian SchatzBrian Emanuel SchatzOvernight Health Care: FDA withdraws emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine | Surging coronavirus cases raise fears of new lockdowns | Trump on coronavirus: ‘If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any’ Hillicon Valley: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos open to testifying before Congress | Former eBay staffers charged with aggressively cyberstalking couple behind critical newsletter | Senators call for making telehealth expansion permanent after COVID-19 Bipartisan senators call for making telehealth expansion permanent post-coronavirus MORE (D-Hawaii) and Roger WickerRoger Frederick WickerOvernight Health Care: FDA withdraws emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine | Surging coronavirus cases raise fears of new lockdowns | Trump on coronavirus: ‘If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any’ Hillicon Valley: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos open to testifying before Congress | Former eBay staffers charged with aggressively cyberstalking couple behind critical newsletter | Senators call for making telehealth expansion permanent after COVID-19 Bipartisan senators call for making telehealth expansion permanent post-coronavirus MORE (R-Miss.). “Congress should expand access to telehealth services on a permanent basis so that telehealth remains an option for all Medicare beneficiaries both now and after the pandemic.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Telehealth has grown in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic as a safer alternative to in-person visits.

The services help doctors work with patients diagnosed with COVID-19 without putting themselves at risk.

It also helps providers care for high-risk patients who might contract the disease if forced to leave their homes for medical visits.

Advocates say enhanced telehealth capabilities could result in improved service with lower fees even beyond the pandemic.

“Doing so would assure patients that their care will not be interrupted when the pandemic ends,” the senators wrote. “It would also provide certainty to health care providers that the costs to prepare for and use telehealth would be a sound long-term investment.” 

Click Here: cheap INTERNATIONAL jersey

A legislative fight over whether to rename military installations named after Confederate generals is quickly dividing Senate Republicans and creating campaign headaches.

GOP strategists warn that a misstep could prove costly, giving GOP senators heartburn in a year when they have to defend 23 seats, compared to just 12 for Democrats who are growing increasingly confident of their chances to win back the majority in November.

Click Here: cheap INTERNATIONAL jersey

The hot button issue took shape last week when a group of Republicans led by Sen. Tom CottonTom Bryant CottonOvernight Defense: Trump confirms plans to draw down in Germany | Senate panel backs funding to prep for nuclear test ‘if necessary’ | US military command in Korea bans Confederate flag Senate panel approves M to prepare for nuclear test ‘if necessary’ Chris Wallace to NY Times: ‘I don’t pull punches, I’m not playing favorites’ MORE (R-Ark.) called for modifying an amendment sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Democrats seize on crises in battle for state legislatures The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Trump, GOP on defense as nationwide protests continue Cotton emerges as key figure in base renaming fight MORE (D-Mass.) that would direct the secretary of Defense to remove any commemoration of the Confederate States of America from all assets — with the exception of grave markers. The revised provision was later approved during a markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with some GOP support.

ADVERTISEMENT

But Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyThis week: Lawmakers look to advance police reform bills Cotton emerges as key figure in base renaming fight GOP struggles to confront racial issues MORE (R-Mo.), a rising conservative star, is now leading an effort to weaken language that he said caught many of his GOP colleagues by surprise.

“This was unexpected, I think. A lot of people did not know this was even going to be voted on,” Hawley said. “And then their initial impression was, ‘Oh, this is just a study.’ They don’t realize that actually no, as Sen. Warren said, it’s mandatory language.’”

Hawley’s push could put some Republicans in a bind, particularly those who supported the measure behind closed doors, even though Warren’s amendment was adopted by voice vote, meaning there’s no official record of which GOP members voted for it.

Hawley said he raised his objections in the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing room last week and asked for a roll-call vote but had his request denied.

It’s an especially charged topic for Republicans from states that were part of the Confederacy, such as Sen. Thom TillisThomas (Thom) Roland TillisKoch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators The Hill’s Campaign Report: It’s primary night in Georgia Tillis unveils new 0,000 ad in North Carolina Senate race MORE (N.C.), who faces a tough road to re-election and whose state is home to Fort Bragg, named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg.

Tillis was one of several Republicans who raised concerns about Warren’s amendment during the committee markup. Other vulnerable Republican incumbents, Sens. Martha McSallyMartha Elizabeth McSallyThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Trump, GOP on defense as nationwide protests continue Cotton emerges as key figure in base renaming fight GOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police MORE (R-Ariz.) and Joni ErnstJoni Kay ErnstThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Democrats seize on crises in battle for state legislatures Cotton emerges as key figure in base renaming fight Ernst challenger leads by 3 points in tight Iowa Senate race MORE (R-Iowa), said they voted for the measure.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sen. Mike RoundsMarion (Mike) Michael RoundsCotton emerges as key figure in base renaming fight OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senior Interior official contacted former employer, violating ethics pledge: watchdog | Ag secretary orders environmental rollbacks for Forest Service | Senate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Senators call on Trump administration to simplify PPP loan forgiveness process MORE (R-S.D.), who is also up for reelection but in a deep red state, spoke up in favor of the amendment behind closed doors.

Chip Saltsman, a GOP strategist, said the debate over renaming military institutions is politically tricky for Republicans because it divides their base more so than Democrats.

“I think it probably splits more Republican primary voters,” he said, warning it could be a dangerous issue. “I don’t think it’s something I would want to pin my political future on.”

“I don’t know any Republicans or Democrats that think slavery was a good thing. But it seems like the line to me is: Do not under any circumstances rewrite history,” Saltsman added. “You’re going to make a big group of people mad either way, and so you need to pick where you are on this and stand kind of tall on it.”

Even senators from the same state are taking different positions. Whereas Ernst voted for Warren’s amendment, Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyCongress must protect federal watchdogs Republicans start bracing for shutdown fight in run-up to election Republicans release newly declassified intelligence document on FBI source Steele MORE (R-Iowa) said Monday he would likely support Hawley’s change to the provision.

“I don’t want to rewrite history,” Grassley said, while acknowledging he had “not absolutely made up [his] mind.”

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim InhofeJames (Jim) Mountain InhofeThis week: Lawmakers look to advance police reform bills OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (R-Okla.) agrees with Hawley that Warren’s amendment should be softened to give the secretary of Defense discretion over whether to change base names or not. He also wants to give state and local authorities direct say on proposed changes in their communities.

But the biggest driving force for preserving the status quo is President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate GOP seeks to restrict use of chokeholds in police reform bill Obama wishes country a ‘Happy Pride month’ after SCOTUS decision protecting LGBTQ rights Trump leads Biden by one point in Iowa: poll MORE, who last week urged Senate Republicans “not to fall for this!”

Inhofe said he’s spoken extensively to Trump and that the president favors removing the mandate to change base names, effectively tying the Defense secretary’s hands.

Asked how Republicans would resolve the issue, Inhofe replied: “I wish I had that answer.”

He said there are several ways to change Warren’s amendment from stating the Defense secretary “shall” implement a plan to change base and installation names submitted by a special commission to “may,” providing significant latitude.  

“You could do an amendment on the floor, you could do it in conference. There’s a lot of doing that. It’s not insurmountable,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Other Republicans, however, are warning that it could be very difficult to change Warren’s language, setting up a standoff with Trump. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters last week that Trump would veto the $740 billion Defense authorization bill if it required the renaming of bases.

Senate Republican Whip John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneMcConnell wants vote on police reform bill before July 4 Senate GOP unlikely to bring up police reform bill before July 4 break This week: Lawmakers look to advance police reform bills MORE (S.D.) said Monday that changing Warren’s language would require 60 votes on the Senate floor unless a deal can be reached with Democrats to allow an amendment to pass with a simple majority.

With Republicans holding a slim 53-47 majority, getting 60 votes for changing the amendment appears unlikely given the GOP divisions.

An agreement with Senate Democratic Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerBlack lawmakers rally behind Engel in primary fight Jones, Sessions spar over renaming of military bases Democrats rip Trump rollback of LGBTQ protections amid Pride Month MORE (D-N.Y.) is also considered unlikely.

“When it’s in the base bill, it becomes a much heavier lift on the floor. It sounds like we have some members who are maybe going to attempt to do that. We’ll see. It’s generated a lot of discussion and we’ll see where that leads,” Thune said.

Thune said the defense policy bill will probably come to the Senate floor the week of June 29. The preliminary procedural motions, however, could come to the floor at the end of next week, he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Changing or removing Warren’s amendment in a Senate-House conference committee would also be a difficult task because the House version of the defense bill is expected to include language similar to Warren’s provision.

Reps. Anthony BrownAnthony Gregory BrownTrump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names Overnight Defense: Trump rejects scrapping Confederate names from Army bases | House chairman ups push for Esper, Milley to testify | Ousted State IG tells lawmakers he doesn’t know status of Pompeo investigations Trump ‘will not even consider’ renaming Army bases named for Confederate leaders MORE (D-Md.), an African American Army veteran, and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), an Air Force veteran, are introducing legislation to create a commission within a year to rename bases and other military property.

“Removing these names is another step in an honest accounting of our history and an expression that we continue to strive to form a more perfect union,” Brown said in a statement to The Baltimore Sun last week.

Brown’s office says he will propose an amendment to the Defense authorization bill when the House Armed Services Committee considers its version July 1.

Traditionally, when both chambers pass bills containing highly similar provisions, they are kept in the final version that goes to the president’s desk.

The debate is expected to heat up over the next few weeks as the Senate defense bill makes its way to the floor for a vote. For many opponents of Warren’s amendment, the concern involves worries about a slippery slope toward broader renaming efforts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Greg Weiner, an associate professor of political science at Assumption University in Massachusetts, argued there’s a big difference between the Founding Fathers, who owned slaves, and Confederate generals.

“Many of our constitutional framers — [George] Washington and [James] Madison, among others — held views on enslavement that are repugnant to us today. But we celebrate them for other reasons and believe, in the balance, that their virtues outweigh their sins and make them worthy of enduring honor,” he said.

“There is no such larger or balancing context for Confederate generals,” he added. “The only reason these bases were named for them was to celebrate their armed rebellion against the United States.”

Updated at 9:14 a.m. Jordain Carney contributed.

HAPPY MONDAY! Welcome to Overnight Energy, The Hill’s roundup of the latest energy and environment news. Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Beitsch at rbeitsch@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccabeitsch. Reach Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com or follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our newsletter.

HIT THE TRAIL: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a permit for a controversial $8 billion gas pipeline that would tunnel below the famed Appalachian Trail.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 7-2 opinion handed a defeat to environmental groups who challenged the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), which would carry natural gas some 600 miles from West Virginia to North Carolina.

The decision to uphold the permit resolves a complex bureaucratic dispute involving multiple U.S. environmental agencies and overlapping legal authorities.

The case delved deep into philosophical questions. Is a trail more than just the land it sits on? And if so, who controls it?

The justices held that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) had been duly authorized to greenlight the project, rejecting the challengers’ claim that power over the affected land lay elsewhere.

The dispute stemmed from the Department of the Interior’s decision to make the National Park Service (NPS) responsible for the Appalachian Trail, calling into question whether approval for the pipeline rests with Congress.

But Justice Clarence ThomasClarence ThomasOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Supreme Court upholds permit for B pipeline under Appalachian Trail | Report finds NOAA ‘Sharpiegate’ statement ‘not based on science’ but political influence | EPA faces suit over plan to release genetically engineered mosquito Overnight Defense: Trump confirms plans to draw down in Germany | Senate panel backs funding to prep for nuclear test ‘if necessary’ | US military command in Korea bans Confederate flag Gorsuch draws surprise, anger with LGBT decision MORE, writing for the majority, said the administrative arrangement did not remove the USFS’s power to permit construction under the trail.

“Accordingly, the Forest Service had the authority to issue the permit here,” wrote Thomas, whose majority opinion cut across ideological lines.

ADVERTISEMENT

“For decades, more than 50 other pipelines have safely crossed the trail without disturbing its public use. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline will be no different,” ACP spokeswoman Ann Nallo said by email, reiterating the company’s plans to be in operation by 2022.

“To avoid impacts to the trail, the pipeline will be installed hundreds of feet below the surface and emerge more than a half-mile from each side of the trail. There will be no construction activity on or near the trail itself, and the public will be able to continue enjoying the trail as they always have.”

The case came before the justices on appeal from a 2018 ruling by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which sided with environmentalists.

The lower court ruled that the Appalachian Trail fell under the authority of the NPS, which it said was barred by law from granting land access, known as a right-of-way, for energy development.

The ACP remains tied up in a number of other legal disputes and has yet to secure several other permits it needs to follow its proposed route. 

“While today’s decision was not what we hoped for, it addresses only one of the many problems faced by the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. This is not a viable project. It is still missing many required authorizations, including the Forest Service permit at issue in today’s case, and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will soon consider the mounting evidence that we never needed this pipeline to supply power,” DJ Gerken, with the Southern Environmental Law Center, which sued over the pipeline, said in a statement. 

Environmental groups have pledged to continue to fight the pipeline in other outstanding cases.

“This decision doesn’t greenlight the dangerous Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The fact remains the developers cannot move ahead without securing eight crucial federal and state permits required for construction — concerning air pollution, endangered species, rights of way and clean water,” the Natural Resources Defense Council said in a statement.

 “That’s why we’ll continue fighting through all legal and federal and state avenues to ensure this proposed fracked gas pipeline — which threatens the air, drinking water, environmental justice communities and our climate — is never built.”

Read the full story here, with more legal analysis from our SCOTUS report. 

NOAA CONSEQUENCES: Leaders at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) violated the agency’s scientific integrity policy by issuing a statement in September contradicting the National Weather Service (NWS) shortly after President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate GOP seeks to restrict use of chokeholds in police reform bill Obama wishes country a ‘Happy Pride month’ after SCOTUS decision protecting LGBTQ rights Trump leads Biden by one point in Iowa: poll MORE warned Hurricane Dorian could be headed toward Alabama.

“The development of the statement was not based on science but appears to be largely driven by external influence from senior Commerce [Department] officials who drafted the Sept. 6 statement,” the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) concluded in its report, which was requested by NOAA following public pressure.

NOAA wrote in a Sept. 6 statement that “tropical storm-force winds from Hurricane Dorian could impact Alabama,” contradicting a Sept. 1 statement from the NWS in Birmingham, Ala., that said the state would see “no impacts” from the hurricane. 

The statement came after Trump insisted that Alabama could bear the brunt of the 2019 hurricane, which ultimately landed on the East Coast. In making his claim, Trump used a marked-up projection map produced by NOAA that conflicted with information given by weather forecasters.

“The administration made matters worse by refusing to correct this known error in real time, and even taking steps to obstruct the career scientists and officials trying to do this work,” said Rep. Paul TonkoPaul David TonkoOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Supreme Court upholds permit for B pipeline under Appalachian Trail | Report finds NOAA ‘Sharpiegate’ statement ‘not based on science’ but political influence | EPA faces suit over plan to release genetically engineered mosquito Report finds NOAA ‘sharpiegate’ statement ‘not based on science’ but political influence Democrats call for green energy relief in next stimulus package MORE (D-N.Y.), who had been among those calling for an investigation.

“It will be clear to anyone reviewing the accounts captured in this highly credible, independent Scientific Integrity report that the political leaders who interfered in our emergency response system need to publicly apologize or resign,” Tonko added.

In its response to the report, NOAA said: “Scientific integrity is at the core of NOAA’s work and is essential for maintaining the public’s trust in the agency’s ability to provide accurate, thorough and timely science.”

The agency said it largely agreed with the report’s findings, which focus most heavily on NOAA head Neil Jacobs and his deputy chief of staff and head of communications, Julie Roberts.

“As the head of the agency and the director of communications, Dr. Neil Jacobs and Julie Roberts should take responsibility for the statement,” the report said.

But, it added, “they purported to believe it was out of their hands. It is important…to take into account the circumstances under which the Sept. 6 statement was developed and released.”

Investigators said they attempted to interview two Commerce Department officials involved in the drafting and release of the statement but were denied access by NOAA.

ADVERTISEMENT

The NAPA investigation is one of three probes into what was dubbed “Sharpiegate” in reference to Trump’s additions to NOAA graphics. The House Science Committee and the Commerce Department’s Office of Inspector General are also investigating. The Commerce Department oversees NOAA.

The NAPA report concludes by saying NOAA staff should undergo training on scientific integrity as part of annual ethics trainings and that the agency should formalize an agreement with the Commerce Department to guide how it helps draft NOAA communications.

Andrew Rosenberg, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a group that had called for the investigation, said that while the NAPA recommendations may be useful, the lack of any consequences for NOAA or Commerce staff do little to ensure there won’t be future political interference.

“This is important stuff. We’re about to be in another hurricane season and we’re going to have more natural disasters like pandemics and there don’t seem to be any consequences for manipulating the science,” he said, “and that puts real communities, real people at risk.”

The story is here. 

AROUND THE AGENCIES:

EPA… The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing a lawsuit over its approval of a plan to release genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida and Texas.

ADVERTISEMENT

Several groups, including the Center for Food Safety, the International Center for Technology Assessment and Friends of the Earth filed a notice of intent to sue on Friday. They allege that the EPA violated the law by failing to consult with wildlife agencies before determining that the mosquitoes will not pose risks to threatened species.

“EPA’s ‘no effect’ findings and failure to consult are arbitrary and capricious and violate the [Endangered Species Act] because they fail to follow the ESA’s mandated procedures, fail to use the best scientific and commercial data available, fail to consider significant aspects of the issue, and offer an explanation that runs counter to the evidence before the agency,” the groups claimed in their notice. 

The EPA last month approved an experimental use permit for a company that wants to test the use of genetically engineered mosquitoes as a way to try to reduce mosquito populations and protect people from mosquito-borne illnesses.

Read more on the potential suit here. 

Interior… A bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers is questioning the Interior Department after it was reported last week that it could start pursuing oil and gas drilling off the coast of Florida following the election this November. 

In their Monday letter, the 18 Florida lawmakers, asked the administration when it planned to release its next offshore drilling proposal and if it would consider excluding lease sales from new areas in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. 

“Florida relies on coastlines unencumbered by oil and gas drilling to sustain its economy, preserve its marine life and natural resources, and protect our national security,” they wrote. 

Four sources told Politico about the plan, noting that the administration is waiting in light of how unpopular offshore drilling is in the state. 

An Interior Department spokesperson, in response, characterized the article as “#FakeNews based entirely on anonymous sources who don’t know what they’re talking about.” 

“Current offshore plans do not expire until 2022, and  @Interior does not plan to issue a new report in November,” the spokesperson tweeted. 

Read more on Florida’s concerns here. 

All of the above… Efforts to stymie government research into climate change and other controversial topics are increasingly being pushed by mid-level managers rather than high-level appointees, according to reporting from The New York Times. 

Fears of losing jobs and funding has led career employees to undermine scientific efforts, asking government researchers to remove references to climate change in their studies.

“If top-level administrators issued a really clear public directive, there would be an uproar and a pushback, and it would be easier to combat,” Lauren Kurtz, executive director of the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund, told the outlet. “This is a lot harder to fight.”

Indeed, many of the biggest scientific efforts from the Trump administration have faced steep resistance.

Growing research suggests the effort to restrict some scientific studies isn’t limited to the highest ranks.

Read more on restrictions on research here. 

ON TAP TOMORROW:

-The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing to examine the impacts of COVID-19 on the energy industry

-The House Energy and Commerce Committee will also hold a hearing COVID-19’s impact on the energy sector 

– The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will look at Ex-EPA employee Nancy Beck’s nomination to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY:

Decommissioned nuclear reactor coming to Nevada roads, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports

A canal that opened the Montana prairie may soon dry up, The New York Times reports

Emissions from 13 dairy firms match those of entire UK, says report, according to The Guardian
Click Here: cheap INTERNATIONAL jersey

ICYMI: Stories from Monday and over the weekend…

Group targeting environmental racism relaunches amid disparities in coronavirus impact

Oil giant BP takes $17.5B writedown in response to coronavirus

Conservative climate group runs pro-environment ads on Fox News

Officials undercut Trump administration’s Lafayette Square claims: Washington Post

Four poachers arrested for allegedly killing endangered silverback gorilla

People with underlying health conditions are six times more likely to be hospitalized with severe COVID-19 illness and 12 times more likely to die of the disease than otherwise healthy coronavirus patients, according to a new analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The most common underlying health conditions for COVID-19 patients are cardiovascular disease, lung disease and diabetes, the CDC said Monday.

In an analysis of more than 1.3 million COVID-19 cases, the agency found 15 percent of patients were hospitalized and 5 percent died, though the true fatality rate is likely lower because people with mild or no symptoms are least likely to be tested.

ADVERTISEMENT

The report indicates the likelihood of severe illness and death increases with age, particularly among men and people with underlying health conditions. Death was most commonly reported among patients 80 and older, regardless of whether they had an underlying health condition.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be severe, particularly in certain population groups,” the CDC said.

While average daily reported cases and deaths are declining, the report said, there are still signs of ongoing community transmission across the country.

COVID-19 has swept through nursing homes, killing at least 32,000 residents, according to recent data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Older people are more likely to have weakened immune systems and underlying health conditions.

Overall, incidence rates for COVID-19 were higher among people between the ages of 40 and 59 than those between the ages of 60 and 79, though the report does not indicate why.

ADVERTISEMENT

Incidence rates were highest among people 80 and older, with about 900 cases per 100,000 people in that age group, and lowest for children, possibly because they’re not showing symptoms or are experiencing mild illness.

Still, younger people are not immune to COVID-19, especially if they have underlying health conditions. People between the ages of 20 and 29 accounted for 14 percent of confirmed infections; of the confirmed cases in that age group, 4 percent needed hospitalization.

The hospitalization rate for 20- to 29-year-old patients was more than four times higher for those with underlying health conditions.

People between the ages of 30 and 39 accounted for 16 percent of infections. Nearly 6 percent needed hospitalization, but the rate of hospitalization was four times higher for those with underlying health conditions.

The report also showed racial and ethnic disparities.

Among the 600,000 cases with information on race and ethnicity, 33 percent were Hispanic, 22 percent were black and 1.3 percent were American Indians or Alaskan Natives, despite accounting for 18 percent, 13 percent and 0.7 percent of the U.S. population, respectively.

Severe COVID-19 outcomes were more commonly reported among men, according to the report, but it is not clear why.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate GOP seeks to restrict use of chokeholds in police reform bill Obama wishes country a ‘Happy Pride month’ after SCOTUS decision protecting LGBTQ rights Trump leads Biden by one point in Iowa: poll MORE on Monday confirmed plans to cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany by roughly half.

“We’re putting the number down to 25,000 soldiers,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

“Germany’s delinquent,” Trump added. “They’ve been delinquent for years, and they owe NATO billions of dollars, and they have to pay it. So we’re protecting Germany, and they’re delinquent. That doesn’t make sense.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Germany is not on track to meet NATO’s goal of spending 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense. But it is not “delinquent” to NATO as Trump describes because the spending is not a payment to NATO — it is spending on a country’s own defense — and the goal does not have to be met until 2024.

Trump also raised the issue of trade negotiations with Germany, saying he’s “not satisfied with the deal they want to make.”

“So we get hurt on trade, and we get hurt on NATO,” he said. 

Click Here: camiseta rosario central

Trump’s comments mark the first confirmation after reports surfaced earlier this month that he planned to cut the cap on the number of U.S. troops allowed to be in Germany at any one time from 52,000 to 25,000.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that national security adviser Robert O’Brien signed a directive ordering the cap reduction as well as a drawdown of about 9,500 troops from the 35,000 currently there.

Trump has long pushed NATO members to contribute more to their own defense and has repeatedly taken special aim at Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

ADVERTISEMENT

“One of the only countries that hasn’t agreed to pay what they’re supposed to pay is Germany, so I said until they pay, we’re removing our soldiers, a number of our soldiers by about half,” Trump said Monday. “And then when we get down to 25,000, we’ll see where we’re going.”

Trump’s plan to slash the U.S. troop presence in Germany has sparked fierce pushback from GOP defense hawks in Congress, who argue the presence is an integral buttress against Russian aggression.

Last week, 22 Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee wrote a letter to Trump saying they were “very concerned” about the plan.

“We believe that such steps would significantly damage U.S. national security as well as strengthen the position of Russia to our detriment,” the Republicans wrote.

“We strongly believe that NATO allies, such as Germany, should do more to contribute to our joint defense efforts,” they added. “At the same time, we also know that the forward stationing of American troops since the end of World War II has helped to prevent another world war and, most importantly, has helped make America safer.”

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac ThornberryWilliam (Mac) McClellan ThornberryTrump confirms plan to cut US troops in Germany to 25,000 Overnight Defense: Senate confirms US military’s first African American service chief | Navy to ban display of Confederate flags | GOP lawmakers urge Trump not to cut troops in Germany Republicans urge Trump to reject slashing US troop presence in Germany MORE (R-Texas), also wrote an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal published Thursday warning against a withdrawal.

The Air Force has confirmed that a U.S. fighter jet crashed in the North Sea during a training mission early on Monday, with the status of the pilot currently unknown.

A statement obtained by Reuters indicated that search and rescue teams were on the way to the site of the crash but the pilot had not yet been located.

“At the time of the accident, the aircraft was on a routine training mission with one pilot on board,” the Air Force said of the F-15C Eagle jet.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The cause of the crash as well as the status of the pilot are unknown at this time and UK Search and Rescue have been called to support,” the statement continued.

The jet reportedly took off from RAF Lakenheath, a Royal Air Force base in the U.K. located about 25 miles from Cambridge that hosts many U.S. service members.

Local coast guard officials were reportedly also assisting in rescue operations following the crash, which occurred around 9:40 a.m. local time.

In 2015, the U.K. was the site of another accident involving a Marine F-18 that took off from the same base before crashing. One person on board that flight died in the crash.

Click Here: camiseta rosario central

A Senate committee on Tuesday advanced the nomination of President TrumpDonald John TrumpMcBath, Handel to face off in Georgia House rematch Trump thanks George P. Bush for his support: ‘Great honor’ Trump Jr.’s Mongolia hunting trip cost K in Secret Service protection MORE’s pick for the second-in-command role at the Energy Department. 

Mark Menezes’s nomination to be deputy energy secretary received opposition from just one senator on the chamber’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Catherine Cortez MastoCatherine Marie Cortez MastoOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior faces legal scrutiny for keeping controversial acting leaders in office | White House faces suit on order lifting endangered species protections | Lawmakers seek investigation of Park Police after clearing of protesters Senate advances deputy energy secretary nominee Senate Democratic campaign arm launches online hub ahead of November MORE (D-Nev.), over the Trump administration’s reported consideration of nuclear testing. 

The Washington Post reported last month that administration officials discussed the possibility of such testing during a May 15 meeting with senior officials. 

ADVERTISEMENT

This would be the first time the U.S. has conducted a nuclear test since 1992. In the 20th century, some U.S. nuclear tests were conducted at a site in Nevada, Cortez Masto’s home state. 

“Reports are suggesting that this Administration is prepared to jeopardize the health and safety of Nevadans, undercut our nation’s nuclear nonproliferation goals, and further weaken strategic partnerships with our global allies just to flex its muscles on the global stage,” Cortez Masto said in a statement submitted to the congressional record. 

“I look forward to receiving assurances that Nevada will not be used, once again, for explosive nuclear testing,” she added. 

The senator also referenced tests that took place at the Nevada National Security Site between 1945 and 1992. 

“Each one of those tests made a lasting mark on Nevada, surrounding states, test site workers, and individuals downwind from the blasts,” her statement said. 

The Energy Department did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Following the voice vote on Tuesday, Menezes will have to be approved by the full Senate. 

Since 2017, he has served as under secretary of energy and has advised the department on policy and technology. Before that, he worked as an executive with Berkshire Hathaway Energy and has also lobbied for several energy companies. 

Cortez Masto’s comments are not the first time Nevada nuclear issues have come up in recent months. 

Earlier this year, President Trump reversed his stance on storing nuclear waste in the state’s Yucca Mountain, and for the first time did not seek funding for storing waste at the controversial repository in his annual budget proposal. 

“Nevada, I hear you on Yucca Mountain and my Administration will RESPECT you! Congress and previous Administrations have long failed to find lasting solutions – my Administration is committed to exploring innovative approaches – I’m confident we can get it done!” he tweeted in February.

Click Here: camiseta rosario central

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said Thursday that nursing homes that confiscate residents’ coronavirus stimulus payments could be subject to federal enforcement actions, including possible removal from participating in Medicaid and Medicare programs.

CMS said in a news release that it is aware of allegations that some nursing homes are demanding residents’ payments, and that the practice is prohibited. The agency said that it has not received specific complaints about this practice but wants to inform nursing home residents of their rights while warning facilities of the potential consequences of seizing residents’ checks.

CMS’s message comes after state attorneys general have been reporting that they’ve had complaints of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities requiring residents on Medicaid to sign over their payments. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have been asking federal agencies to help protect residents, with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard NealRichard Edmund NealOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Nursing homes under scrutiny after warnings of seized stimulus checks MORE (D-Mass.) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) urging CMS to issue guidance to nursing homes and residents.

ADVERTISEMENT

CMS said that the confiscation of residents’ checks could be considered misappropriation of resident property under federal regulations. Nursing homes that require residents to sign over their payments could also be in violation of rules that give residents the right to manage their own financial affairs, the agency added.

CMS encouraged nursing home residents and their family members who were directed to turn over their stimulus checks to file complaints with their state survey agency and to contact their state attorney general.

Under legislation enacted in March, most Americans are entitled to one-time payments of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per dependent child. The checks are advance payments of refundable tax credits, which means that they cannot count as income for Medicaid eligibility purposes.

Click Here: New Zealand rugby store

President TrumpDonald John TrumpMelania Trump is ‘behind-the-scenes’ but ‘unbelievably influential’: book Police unions face lobbying fights at all levels of government Ernst challenger leads by three points in tight Iowa Senate race MORE saluted West Point graduates for their service and accomplishments while emphasizing unity amid “turbulent” times during a commencement address Saturday that punctuated tensions over racial injustice and concerns about the novel coronavirus.

Trump used the address to congratulate the cadets, recognize the contributions of the U.S. armed forces to American society, and tout his own administration’s efforts to execute a “colossal rebuilding” of the military and end an “era of endless wars.”

“This premier military academy produces only the best of the best, the strongest of the strong and the bravest of the brave,” Trump said. “West Point is a universal symbol of American gallantry, loyalty, devotion, discipline and great skill.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“To the 1,107 cadets who today become the newest officers in the most exceptional Army ever to take the field of battle, I am here to offer America’s salute. Thank you for answering your nation’s call,” the president continued.

The commencement was staged outside at the military academy’s campus in upstate New York, with the crowd of graduates adhering to social distancing guidelines, underscoring the continued threat of the novel coronavirus throughout the United States. The cadets marched out clad in masks and removed them upon taking their seats.

Family and other guests were not permitted to attend the ceremony as they normally would, which the president acknowledged at one point by encouraging graduates to applaud their parents as they watched the event remotely.

Gov. Andrew CuomoAndrew CuomoProtesters turn out in DC for third consecutive weekend Trump at West Point stresses unity amid ‘turbulent’ times Cuomo signs legislation banning police chokeholds MORE (D) has limited outdoor, socially distanced graduations in the state to 150 people, though West Point is a federal facility and therefore not bound by Cuomo’s order.

Trump briefly mentioned the coronavirus, which has killed more than 114,00 people in the U.S., during his speech, referring to it as a virus that “came to our shores from a distant land called China” and pledging to “extinguish” it.

ADVERTISEMENT

The address came against a backdrop of tensions between Trump and military officials over the handling of demonstrations spurred by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

The president did not mention Floyd on Saturday but made veiled references to the unrest that has gripped the country in the wake of his death.

Trump thanked National Guardsmen “who respond with precision to so many recent challenges from hurricanes and national disasters to ensure peace, safety and the constitutional rule of law on our streets,” an apparent allusion to his efforts to crack down on violence and looting that has accompanied some of the protests over police brutality and racism.

Trump also said that America’s institutions would endure “against the passions and prejudices of the moment.”

“When times are turbulent, when the road is rough, what matters most is that which is permanent, timeless, enduring and eternal,” the president said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Click Here: New Zealand rugby store

Prominent former military officials have rebuked Trump for his response to the recent demonstrations across the country as well as his threat to send active-duty troops to cities to quell violence.

James MattisJames Norman MattisTrump at West Point stresses unity amid ‘turbulent’ times The Memo: Bolton and Trump gear up for book fight Trump heads to West Point amid fresh military tensions MORE, Trump’s former defense secretary and a retired four-star general widely respected in military circles, is among those who have criticized the president.

Pentagon leaders have also faced blowback for their involvement in the president’s photo opportunity at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., earlier this month, which occurred after protesters were forcibly cleared from the area by federal law enforcement and National Guardsmen.

Hundreds of West Point graduates signed on to a letter this week criticizing top Defense officials in the Trump administration for their involvement in the events surrounding the photo-op on June 1. In an extraordinary move, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley on Thursday said he regretted his involvement in Trump’s appearance at the church.

Trump, who has sought to tie himself closely to the military throughout his presidency and enjoys strong support from veterans, has maintained that his relationship with the military remains strong and shrugged off Milley’s statement.

On Saturday, Trump positioned himself as a champion of the military, highlighting his administration’s efforts to invest in new equipment and establish the U.S. Space Force.

“We are restoring the fundamental principle that the job of the American soldier is not to rebuild foreign nations but to defend and defend strongly our nation from foreign enemies,” Trump said. “We are ending the era of endless wars. In its place is a new clear-eyed focus on defending America’s vital interests.”