Dear friend,

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones! While this can be a wonderful time of the year, I know it can also be tough for many folks. Below are some valuable mental health resources that you can reach out to for assistance this holiday season:

This Week in Delaware

Energizing Our Clean Energy Future

On Monday, I joined U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk, elected officials, universities, schools, businesses, organized labor, nonprofits, environmental justice advocates, and more for a conference on the newly announced Mid-Atlantic Regional Hydrogen Hub, also called MACH2. As part of President Biden’s transformational Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, 7 hubs across the nation – including MACH2 – were selected to help advance the production of clean hydrogen.

Hydrogen is the fuel of tomorrow and can be used to fuel cars, trucks, planes, and ships – making transportation of passengers, products, and produce cheaper, quicker, and safer! In addition to helping our health and environment, 20,000 good-paying jobs, including union jobs, are expected to come from MACH2. The big takeaway from the conference was that we all have a role to play in turning the vision of MACH2 into action – and we’re going to do just that in an equitable, just, and sustainable way. To read more about the MACH2 conference, check out this article from WDEL.

Strengthening our Supply Chains at Royale Pigments and Chemicals

On Tuesday, I was glad to meet with Royale Pigments and Chemicals in Bear which distributes specialty colorants into the paint, coatings, and fire retardants markets. We talked about the company’s expansion that’s in progress in Seaford as well as the need to strengthen our supply chains for our economy, health, safety, and national security.

I’ve long been focused on strengthening our supply chains, and I was proud to recently announce a major bipartisan agreement with Representative Larry Buschon of Indiana (R) on a supply chains package that passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously. This deal will help us map, monitor, and strengthen American supply chains - making more critical goods at home, creating good-paying jobs, and lowering consumer costs. If you want to read more about this legislation, click here.

This Week in Washington

Calling for Action on Blood Clots

This week, I sent a letter to the U.S. Surgeon General urging him to launch a nationwide call to action to raise awareness of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms. One American every six minutes dies from a blood clot, and a lot of people across the country aren’t aware of the signs and symptoms. In September, I introduced bipartisan legislation in honor of my late husband who died from blood clots – the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act. That legislation aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms and improve research on blood clots so that we can save lives. If you’d like to read the full letter, click here.

Sign Up for Health Care Coverage That Starts on February 1, 2024!

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.

I was excited to visit Fred Fifer III Middle School in Camden-Wyoming this week! The energy at the school was palpable, and it was clear from the moment I walked in the door that the school was like one big family. Thank you to Hunter and Trent for showing me around and to all the students and faculty for welcoming me into the #FiferFamily!