Fighting to Protect Louisiana’s Offshore Energy Producers

This week, I sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary David Bernhardt requesting DOI to expedite the royalty relief process to protect jobs, keep businesses afloat, and ensure America is still the dominant energy producer once we emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic.

In 2019, energy production in the Gulf of Mexico supported nearly 500,000 jobs, over $5 billion in government revenues, and $155 million in coastal restoration funding in Louisiana alone. Energy producers in the Gulf of Mexico, and the companies who service them, not only support the communities and businesses in Southeast Louisiana, but our nation’s economy and overall energy and national security. Moreover, for Louisiana, revenues from offshore production have provided lifesaving investments to restore our state’s coastline. We must ensure Gulf of Mexico energy producers survive this challenging time, and I will continue fighting to protect the jobs, communities, and coastal restoration projects supported by Louisiana’s offshore energy producers.

China Must be Held Accountable for Endangering Frontline Heroes

The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis held a virtual briefing this week on protecting frontline and essential workers. I used this briefing to urge House Democrats to hold China accountable for lying about Coronavirus and jeopardizing the health and safety of our frontline heroes in the first place. Click here to view my remarks.

I thank all of our frontline heroes — nurses, doctors, EMTs, grocery store workers, truck drivers, janitors, factory workers in essential industries — and the millions of Americans who have responded to the call. Because of people like you, the virus has met its match and will be defeated, and I will continue fighting to hold China accountable for endangering our frontline heroes.

Community Updates and Good News of the Week

• HHS announced $98.5 million in funding for Louisiana Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) impacted by COVID-19. Nursing homes are an important part of our health care system, and this funding will provide additional resources to help these facilities care for their residents and protect health care workers on the front lines of the fight against this pandemic.
  
  
• Today, President Trump declared churches and other houses of worship as essential, and called on governors across the country to allow them to reopen this weekend. Click here for guidance from the CDC to help communities of faith keep their staff and congregations safe.
  
  
• President Trump is sending more relief to farmers and ranchers hard hit by the Coronavirus crisis. This is huge for all the men and women working day in and day out to keep our nation's food supply strong and safe.
  
  
• As of May 21, FEMA, HHS, and the private sector combined have coordinated the delivery of or are currently shipping: 83.4 million N95 respirators, 140.2 million surgical masks, 11.9 million face shields, 28.6 million surgical gowns, and over 1 billion gloves.
  
  
• FEMA has made 588 deliveries of medical supplies to nursing homes in 52 of 53 states and territories. FEMA is coordinating two shipments totaling a 14-day supply of personal protective equipment to all 15,400 Medicaid and Medicare-certified nursing homes. The shipments are meant to supplement existing efforts to provide equipment to nursing homes.

It is an honor to represent you in Congress. For more information please visit my website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages.


God Bless,