Dear Friend,

Yesterday, I was proud to vote for a bipartisan government funding package that invests in critical government programs and services that support Delawareans, all while addressing some of our nation’s biggest challenges. Alongside Senators Carper and Coons, we secured $154 million in funding for Delaware that will have a positive impact on people across the First State. The package included investments in our workforce development and job training programs, affordable housing stock, childcare services, climate initiatives, to support our servicemen and women at the Dover Air Force Base, and much more. If you’d like to read more about the funding, please click here.

This Week in Washington

Launching Blood Clot Action, Awareness, and Advocacy: The Toolkit

March is National Blood Clot Awareness Month, and one American every six minutes dies from a blood clot. That’s why, this week, I rolled out my comprehensive toolkit titled “Blood Clot Awareness, Action, and Advocacy: The Toolkit.” As a Congresswoman and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this issue is a professional one for me and the 900,000 Americans affected by blood clots each year and the 100,000 Americans who die each year from blood clots. But as Lisa, this is personal. This year marks 10 years since I lost the love of my life, Charles, to blood clots. Charles was brilliant, kind, humble, and healthy. He was a vegetarian who worked out every day - and his death shook me to my core. But it also inspired me to act because blood clots can affect anyone. To read more about the Toolkit, including my bipartisan Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act, click here. You can watch my floor speech highlighting National Blood Clot Awareness Month by clicking below.

Addressing the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

I was honored to join the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies to discuss one of the most critical challenges of our time - ensuring access to clean water. This is a public health issue, and I have been committed to working alongside my colleagues in Congress to ensure that people in Delaware and across the country know that the water that comes out of their faucets or use in their homes is safe. That’s why I’m proud to work on the implementation of a Low-Income Water Assistance Pilot Program that I championed and was authorized through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Access to clean water isn’t a luxury, it’s a fundamental right.

Chatting with Interns from Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH) Program

As a former intern for then-Congressman Tom Carper, it was great to share my journey and life lessons with interns from the WISH Program. WISH provides housing for interns in our nation’s capital gaining experience in a broad range of industries. To all the current and future interns out there: you are vital to our work. You never know where your journey will take you…even the House of Representatives!

Below are some helpful resources for you:

• Lower Energy Costs: Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act that I helped pass last Congress, there are more opportunities than ever before to lower your energy costs through tax credits and rebates. Check out energy.gov/save to learn more. 

• Look Before You Book: Are you thinking about booking a trip? Before you do, you should ensure that your passport is up-to-date! You can go to travel.state.gov to check your passport expiration date, apply for a new passport, and more.

• Need a Passport Appointment?: The Department of State is encouraging travelers to go to passportappointment.travel.state.gov to schedule passport appointments within 14 days of their date of travel. You can utilize this resource until September!

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988, the 24/7, free and confidential support Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also go to 988lifeline.org.

• Delaware 211: Delawareans in need of emergency housing, utility assistance, food assistance, and more, call 211, Delaware’s free, confidential resource hotline.

This week’s constituent corner celebrates none other than Mr. Celery! Mr. Celery is the mascot of the Wilmington Blue Rocks, our hometown minor league baseball team, and has been bringing smiles to fans’ faces for years. Mr. Celery was recently voted one of the best minor league mascots in the 2024 USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for baseball. Congrats to Mr. Celery and Blue Rocks fans everywhere!

Lastly, before I let you go, today marks 14 years since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. This year, a record-breaking 21 million Americans have Marketplace coverage – including over 40,000 new enrollees in Delaware. Many new enrollees were even able to find marketplace plans for less than $10 a month. I will always continue my efforts in Congress to fight for affordable, quality health care so that everyone can get the health care they need and deserve.

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

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