Dear Friend,

Our newsletter is delayed today as the House was in session and just voted on a critical, bipartisan foreign aid package.

Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of visiting, working, and living in 30 countries. I have experienced the vibrance of new democracies, and I have witnessed the challenges of those living under corrupt regimes or authoritarian powers. In all my travels one truth has remained constant: the United States has continued to stand as a beacon of hope and freedom.

After countless expert-level briefings, thorough discussions with my colleagues, and deep prayer, I voted in favor of legislation that I believe upholds America’s national security interests and democracy around the world. It is crucial to me that I voted on these three pieces of legislation together and that they reflect the Senate-passed bipartisan national security supplemental. These bills meet the consequential moment we are in by providing vital assistance to our democratic allies Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan and supporting U.S. servicemembers. What is especially important to me is that it would send desperately needed humanitarian aid to innocent civilians in conflict zones, including those in Gaza, Haiti, and Sudan.

As the Biden administration works to deescalate growing tensions that could result in a wider war in the Middle East, stand up to Putin’s assault on Ukraine, and reaffirm America’s support in the Indo-Pacific, this historic package could not be more necessary.

I ran for Congress to promote peace at home and abroad. At a time when there is so much pain and suffering happening around the world, Democrats and Republicans were able to come together and do the right thing to support our allies, protect innocent lives, and honor our commitment to defending democracy.

This Week in Washington

Delawareans in DC!

It was great to connect with the Delaware Restaurant Association on issues impacting restaurants and small businesses across Delaware. I'm proud to support our restaurants and small businesses so that they can continue to thrive and help drive the First State's economy.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Delaware Restaurant Association CEO Carrie Leishman and members.

Easterseals Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore stopped by this week! I am so grateful to them for all they do to support people with disabilities and their families. Thank you to Ken Sklenar, President/CEO, Verna Hensley, Vice President of Public Affairs, and the Easterseals staff for your exceptional leadership in our state and region.

Left to right: Ken Sklenar, President/CEO, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Verna Hensley, Vice President of Public Affairs

I also had the pleasure of meeting with the Delaware State Association of Letter Carriers which is part of the well respected National Association of Letter Carriers. Our postal workers are the backbone of our mail network across Delaware, and I’m proud to support and advocate for them – today and every day!

Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity in Emergency Medicine

This week, I was proud to address the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Diversity, Inclusion & Health Equity Section Luncheon. At this time, we are seeing unprecedented attacks on diversity and inclusion – something that is especially vital in addressing health care outcomes and strengthening our health care workforce. As one of the few former statewide health officials in Congress and a member of the Social Determinants of Health Caucus, pursuing equity in health care and improving health outcomes has been a priority of mine. As the ER doctors shared, diversity, inclusion, and health equity save lives, and must be prioritized in emergency care. I was also glad to welcome ACEP members from Delaware to the Capitol to thank them for their work!

Meeting with Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados

It was my honor to welcome Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados to my Washington office this week. Prime Minister Mottley is widely known around the world for being a leader in fighting the climate crisis and given that Delaware is the state with the lowest mean elevation in the country, we had a lot to talk about.

There is a common thread in the Prime Minister’s work – we need to work together as a global community to address global crises, and I look forward to doing my part to help us meet our collective climate goals.

Standing up for Reliable Mail Service

I recently joined a bipartisan group of 22 of my colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in opposition to the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) recent nationwide consolidation and review announcements that could diminish mail service reliability for postal networks across the country. I have heard from many postal workers and Delawareans about the potential impacts of these changes, and I share your concern.

It’s why I, alongside Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, sent a letter last December to Postmaster DeJoy expressing concerns about the Postal Service’s ongoing Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR) of the Wilmington Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) and pushed for recommendations that would minimize staffing reductions, address impacts to affected workers, and proactively prevent any deterioration of service. To read the letters, click here.

This Week in Delaware

UPCOMING: Senior Constituent Resource Fair in Lewes

I’m thrilled to share that my office is hosting another resource fair! This fair will be focused on resources for Delaware seniors and will take place on Friday, May 3, 2024, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Lewes Senior Activity Center. This is a great opportunity for seniors in Sussex County to learn about what services and resources are available to them.

Over 20 federal and state agencies will be in attendance such as the Social Security Administration, Medicare, the Internal Revenue Service, and the VA as well as several community organizations.

Additionally, members of my casework team will be present to also help anyone having issues with federal agencies including passport and visa processing, securing your Social Security benefits, and getting your tax refund from the IRS.

RSVPs are encouraged but not required. To RSVP, please click here. Additional information on the fair can be found on my website.

Thank you for coming to Mobile Office Hours in Greenwood

Thank you to all of the constituents who came out to the Greenwood Public Library to see my casework team this past week. The event was a success, and we were happy to assist! Keep an eye out on my website for additional Mobile Office Hours coming soon.

Below are some helpful resources for you:

• Delaware Taxpayer Assistance Center Reopens in Dover: The Internal Revenue Service recently announced the reopening of the Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) on S. Dupont Highway in Dover. All IRS TACs operate by appointment. To schedule an appointment at the Dover TAC, call 844-545-5640. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To view services provided at this office and to get directions, click here.
• 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 honors Kyle Rice, Clinical EMS Educator at St. Francis Hospital. It was so great to see Kyle at the Capitol and hear about his work. Not only is Kyle a full-time paramedic but he is also dedicated to educating the next generations of paramedics. In Delaware, we are so blessed to have people like Kyle who work every day to keep our communities safe and healthy.

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

Contact Me