Dear friend,

I hope you and your family had a restful, relaxing, and reflective Thanksgiving holiday. I always love the opportunity to spend time with my family, celebrate traditions, and enjoy some good food! This holiday was a little extra special, as it was my first as a grandmother. And while it was great to relax over the holiday, it was still a very busy week. After 10 consecutive weeks of the House being in session in Washington, I was grateful to see friendly faces back home in the First State.

This Week in Delaware

Highlighting Accomplishments of the Dover Air Force Base at State of the Base

I started my week at the Dover Air Force Base for the Annual State of the Base, hosted by the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, which has just earned a 5-star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce! The State of the Base is a chance to engage with both the Base and the broader Dover community. It was a pleasure to share the work we’re doing in Congress to strengthen and support the Base and to thank the Airmen and women for providing us with safety, security, and certainty.

Serving Delawareans at the Milton Community Food Pantry

Thanksgiving is also an opportunity to give back. That’s why I joined the Milton Community Food Pantry on Monday to help distribute meals to those in need. Last year, working with the Delaware Congressional Delegation, I was able to help secure federal funds for the Milton Community Food Pantry to open a new facility, which helped expand its capacity to provide more meals. It was great to see that new facility in action and join other Delawareans volunteering to pack and distribute Thanksgiving meals. While our economy is getting stronger by the day, there are still families and individuals in need as we rebound from the pandemic, and it is great to see how this organization is helping our fellow residents.

Getting to Know I Am My Sister’s Keeper

I also had the chance to spend some time with some incredible local organizations, including I Am My Sister’s Keeper (IAMMSK). The mission of IAMMSK is to provide a safe space for the empowerment of young girls, teens, and women with a variety of holistic programming that helps them reach their highest potential. They’re based out of the MSK Community Center in Wilmington which includes a gym (that is equipped for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball games!) and a confidence center that they refer to as their “Starbucks'' where the surrounding community can utilize free wifi that’s available.

Launching the Eastside Career Development Center

I was also thrilled to join the Central Baptist Community Development Corporation for the launch of the Eastside Career Development Center where I announced that I, along with Senator Carper and Senator Coons, secured a $150,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help grow its workforce development programs. In the heart of the historic Eastside Neighborhood in Wilmington, the Center helps young people build the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow, including construction certifications, health care certifications, and cyber training programs. As the former Secretary of Labor in Delaware and the founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Future of Work Caucus, I’m always looking for ways to strengthen our workforce and economy.

REMINDER: Open Enrollment is Here!

The Open Enrollment period has begun! Delawareans looking to purchase health insurance coverage for 2024 through the Marketplace have until January 15, 2024, to enroll. Last year, nearly 35,000 Delawareans signed up for health insurance on Delaware’s marketplace, the highest number yet. Remember that if you already have a health insurance plan through the Marketplace, you will need to re-enroll to maintain your coverage for 2024. To review your current plan, enroll in a new plan, or get more information, go to healthcare.gov or choosehealthde.com. 

This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with CAMP Rehoboth’s new executive director, Kim Leisy. Under her leadership, CAMP Rehoboth is embarking on a new strategic plan to meet the needs of today and the future for those they serve. Included in her vision is leveraging community partnerships in order to better serve the LGBTQ+ community in Rehoboth and greater Sussex County. A great example of this is that CAMP Rehoboth recently held a historic blood drive in partnership with the Blood Bank of Delmarva that encouraged the local community to give blood, including gay men who are, for the first time in decades, now eligible to give blood. I have no doubt CAMP Rehoboth will continue to meet its vision – to be the “heart of the community.”

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

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