Letter to President Donald Trump - Higgins Again Calls for Royalty Relief on Oil & Gas Production

Letter

President Trump,

I am writing to you on behalf of our nation's oil and gas industry which supports directly and
indirectly over 10 million jobs across the United States. As you know, America's energy industry is
facing a generational crisis. International markets and oil values have been heavily impacted as a
result of the Saudi-Russia oil dumping war, and COVID-19 travel restrictions. One option to negate
some of the damage to the industry would be to institute a temporary decrease or elimination of
federal oil and gas royalties until markets have stabilized.

The uncertainty and panic of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has caused the United
States and global energy market to be disrupted. Additionally, Russia and Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have announced plans to increase oil and gas output and
exports. A price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia along with the coronavirus epidemic has
caused a significant decrease in oil prices that has fallen to a point where it is harmful to the
American economy.

Saving the energy sector is critical for the entire country, and certainly in Louisiana, which is
home to over 260,000 individuals employed by the oil and gas industry. Small businesses, including
oil producers, are desperate in these times and are struggling to employ thousands of workers.
Without these businesses and their workers, the United States could be threatened with a shift of oil
production to foreign sources and the loss of portions of an industry that is deeply rooted in our
culture and is a bastion of American exceptionalism worldwide.

It is critical that the United States continues production of oil and gas on U.S. federal lands. I
respectfully request that the Administration examines the viability of a temporary reduction or
elimination of royalties as American energy producers during this time of a foreign price war and a
public health crisis.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

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