Dear friend,

This Monday is Juneteenth, a day when we commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas – two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved Black people in the South.

In 2021, the House of Representatives passed legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday in a 415-14 bipartisan vote; the Senate also voted overwhelmingly to send it to the President’s desk for signature.

Juneteenth commemorates the fact that these people in Galveston, Texas were already free – but they didn’t know it. That’s why on Juneteenth, we will let freedom ring. We will let freedom ring in Delaware. We will let freedom ring in the United States of America. Happy Juneteenth!

This Week in Delaware

Investing in Housing

Senator Carper, Senator Coons, and I joined New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer to announce $750,000 in Community Project Funding for the New Castle County Hope Center. These federal dollars will be used to replace a 26-square-foot portion of the Hope Center’s roof and invest in transportation support to and from the Hope Center. By replacing the portion of the roof that has major leaks, the Hope Center will be able to house more residents. And by strengthening the transportation system, residents will be able to get jobs, go to school, and access health care services. To me, this funding is about one word – stability. We know that safe, reliable, and stable housing is the foundation of everything including employment, education, and health. I’m proud to have delivered this funding for the Hope Center so it can continue its vital work.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester gives remarks at a podium.

Above: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Matt Heckles, Senator Chris Coons, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Hope Center Resident Latoya Brown, and HUD Delaware Field Office Director Maria Bynum.

Celebrating Westside Family Healthcare’s CEO

This week, we celebrated Westside Family Healthcare’s outgoing CEO, Lolita Lopez, at Westside's 35th Annual Gala. Lolita is retiring at the end of the month after 33 years of leading Westside Family Healthcare. Not only has she been a champion for federally qualified health centers, but her work has also improved health outcomes across our state. She was instrumental in implementing the Affordable Care Act in Delaware and keeping patients safe and informed during the pandemic. I’m so grateful for her service – and am even more grateful for her friendship. Congrats Lolita on your well-deserved retirement!

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Lolita Lopez.

Carvertise Headquarters Opening

I attended several events in Delaware this week. I joined Carvertise, a rideshare advertising company, for the grand opening of its new headquarters at the Wilmington Riverfront. Carvertise was built from the ground up by Mac Macleod and Greg after conceiving the idea when they were students at the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program. Having recently unveiled my JOBS Agenda and as Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor and the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Future of Work Caucus in Congress, I’m always focused on connecting people with jobs and supporting entrepreneurship in our state. That’s why I was excited to hear that this new space will bring approximately 100 jobs to Wilmington - strengthening our state’s workforce, economy, and innovation.

Above: Mac MacLeod, Carvertise CEO and co-founder, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Greg Star, Carvertise Operating Partner and co-founder.

This Week in Washington

Bear Mobile Office Hours

My team was glad to be able to assist those who came to Mobile Office Hours this past Thursday at the Bear Library! As a reminder, if you’re having an issue with a federal agency – including Medicare, Social Security, the IRS, Department of State – my office is here to help! Please contact my Wilmington office to speak with a member of my team.

Stay tuned for information on upcoming office hours in Kent and Sussex Counties happening this summer at my website here.

This Week in Washington

House Update

You may have seen this week that the House voted on H.R. 1640, the Save Our Gas Stoves Act. There’s been some confusion over what this bill does so allow me to break it down. This legislation would prohibit the Secretary of Energy from finalizing or enforcing a February 2023 proposed rule that would improve the efficiency of electric and gas stoves, ultimately saving families money on their energy bills.

The intention of the standard is not to ban gas stoves. The agency is proceeding with a congressionally mandated standard. I voted against this bill.

I also signed discharge petitions to bring three critically important gun violence prevention bills to the floor of the House. These bills are to implement universal background checks, ban assault weapons, and close the dangerous Charleston Loophole. The House passed all three of these bills last Congress but as of today, the House Republican Conference refuses to bring them to the floor.

Delawareans in DC

I saw so many Delawareans in DC this week – from the United Steelworkers where I reiterated my support for our union workers to the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA) where we talked about how we can work together to support Delaware’s non-profit sector. I also met with the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay who were in Washington for a STEM conference. It was a pleasure to Tagalong (see what I did there?) with them.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay.