Dear friend,

As we near the end of the year, I want to thank you for coming back each week to catch up on my work on behalf of the First State. I remain as humbled and honored as ever to represent you in Washington. 

This Week in Washington

Launching a Menopause Movement with Actor, Film Maker, and Activist Halle Berry

I was thrilled to welcome Academy Award-winning actor, director, and activist Halle Berry to Washington on Wednesday to talk about the need for awareness, research, heath education, and the removal of the stigma and silence surrounding menopause. Its symptoms can impact women's health, quality of life, and even their workplace productivity. It’s estimated that menopause costs American women an estimated $1.8 billion in lost working time per year - which impacts our economy as a whole. We were joined by members of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus and the Democratic Women’s Caucus. 

Following our conversation, I introduced a bipartisan menopause research and awareness bill with Representative Diana Harshbarger (R) of Tennessee called the We’re Addressing the Realities of Menopause (WARM) Act. And yes, the pun was intended! This bill would help ensure that health care professionals have the most innovative tools, research, and best practices at their disposal to treat menopause and that the public understands this important phase of life. We should celebrate menopause, not dread it. If you want to read more about the bill, click here. 

Introducing the Bipartisan Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Act

I was proud to introduce a new bipartisan bill this week with Representative Larry Bucshon (R) of Indiana to make AI literacy a key component of digital literacy. As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor and the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Future of Work Caucus in Congress, I’ve seen first-hand the incredible opportunities and the unique challenges AI presents. Knowledge is power, and by ensuring that AI literacy is at the heart of digital literacy programs, we can mitigate its risks and harness its potential to improve the way we live, learn, and work. To learn more about the bill, click here. 

National Defense Authorization Act Passes the House

Each year, it is Congress' responsibility to pass an annual defense appropriations bill that honors our commitment to our servicemembers and their families who sacrifice for our nation each day. I voted for this year’s NDAA, which supports the Biden Administration’s proposed 5.2 percent pay raise for servicemembers and invests in other key quality-of-life issues including housing, health care, child care, and jobs. It also reaffirms our commitment to our allies and partners and protects our national security. And for the First State, the bill includes funding for a new blood processing center on the Dover Air Force Base! The current center is the primary provider of blood for overseas personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces, and having a new, state-of-the-art facility is critical to maintaining the health and readiness of our servicemembers. 

This Week in Delaware

Thank you to the Brandywine River Restoration Trust and YWCA Delaware for sitting down with me to share your priorities for 2024 to protect our environment and empower and support women. 

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Brandywine River Restoration Trust Executive Director and Co-Founder Jim Shanahan and Program and Communications Manager Jenn Parrish.

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester meets with YWCA Delaware CEO Melissa Gonville and Director of Racial and Social Justice Becca Cotto.

Missed the December 15th Open Enrollment Deadline? Don’t Worry!

Open Enrollment closed on December 15th but don’t worry! Delawareans looking to purchase health insurance coverage for 2024 through the Marketplace still have until January 15, 2024, to enroll for coverage starting February 1, 2024.

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, my team and our Service Academy Board held nomination interviews. And while it was certainly exciting for them to meet with young Delawareans who are hopeful to attend one of the nation’s prestigious service academies, it was also bittersweet as it was the last round of interviews for a member of our board, Mr. Joe Conaway. He is one of the longest-serving board members in the history of my office; he’s been on our board for seven years! To thank him, we surprised Joe with a Congressional Challenge Coin from yours truly! Joe has been an invaluable partner in this process as well as a great public servant and I am so grateful to him for sharing his time, energy, and expertise with our state and country. Thank you, Joe! 

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

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