Dear Friend,

Today marks the start of Pride Month! As a proud member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, I will always support the LGBTQI+ community in our ongoing fight for fundamental rights and equality for all. I hope you'll join me in celebrating Pride this month!

This Week in Delaware

Lowering Health Care & Prescription Drug Costs with the CMS Administrator in Wilmington

I was proud to host Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Biden Administration in Wilmington yesterday. She is responsible for Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance marketplaces nationally.

We first toured the Swank Center for Memory Care and Geriatric Consultation at ChristianaCare to highlight the center's services and hear from local advocates from the Alzheimer’s Association about what’s needed to advance Alzheimer’s care.

We then met with folks at the Wilmington Senior Center to spread the word about how our work in Congress, alongside the Biden Administration, is lowering health care and prescription drug costs for seniors across our state. We were joined by Chris Fraser, President & Chief Executive Officer of Westside Family Healthcare, Lucretia Young, State Director of AARP Delaware, and representatives of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS).

The conversation focused on five provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act including: 1) the $35/month cap on insulin, 2) the yearly cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, 3) expanded eligibility for Medicare Part D’s Extra-Help Low-Income Subsidy, 4) free recommended vaccines for Medicare beneficiaries, and 5) Medicare’s power to now negotiate the price of prescription drugs. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues and the President to ensure our seniors can afford the health care and prescription drugs they need.

Observing Memorial Day & PACT Act Benefits Webinar

My staff was honored to join the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Veterans Services, and the Delaware River & Bay Authority for their annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony. This year’s observance was focused on, “Telling their stories.” We are eternally grateful for those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Above: War Memorial Plaza at Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle - the site of the annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony.

On the heels of Memorial Day, my office held another implementation webinar this week focused on PACT Act benefits for our veterans. If you missed the webinar, don’t worry! You can watch the full webinar below or on my website. 

This Week in Washington

Calling for Action on the Lease Approval for a Sussex County VA Medical Center

Caring for those who served our nation in uniform isn’t just our duty – it’s our sacred obligation. That’s why I joined Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a Republican from New Jersey, in calling for swift action to be taken to get the lease approved for a VA medical center in Sussex County. With an estimated more than 68,000 veterans living in Delaware, a larger, modernized, and well-staffed VA medical center, especially one that reaches Delaware’s most rural communities, is needed to administer quality care to service members and veterans across our state. To learn more, click here.

REMINDER: Internship Applications Due June 10!

Having started my career in public service as an intern for then-Congressman Tom Carper, I’ve seen first-hand just how valuable an experience internships are. That’s why I wanted to let you know that my office is now accepting internship applications for my Washington, DC and Delaware offices for the fall of 2024. 

Complete applications are due by Monday, June 10, 2024, by close of business. This is an excellent opportunity for young people to learn about public service and gain experience working in a congressional office. For more information on how to apply, please visit my website here.

Below are some helpful resources for you:

• Lower Energy Costs: Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act that I helped pass last Congress, there are opportunities 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 National Suicide Prevention Helpline: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988, the 24/7, free and confidential support National Suicide Prevention Hotline. 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. 
• Student Loan SAVE Program: The Biden Harris Administration announced the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) Plan. This program is income-driven and calculates your monthly payment amount based on your income and family size. The SAVE Plan provides the lowest monthly payments of any Income-Driven Repayment plan available to nearly all student borrowers. To apply for the SAVE Plan, go to studentaid.gov/idr.
• U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Programs: The State Department sponsors several programs across the world that can give Americans educational, cultural, and professional experiences. Find out more about at exchanges.state.gov/us.

This week’s constituent corner honors Jordan Hardnett, a 7th-grade student in the Brandywine School District. Jordan was recently selected to participate in a campaign by LEGO to help students explore their curiosity about space and the cosmos. Students like Jordan submitted their spacecraft ideas to LEGO who literally turned their dreams into reality over the New York City skyline - referring to them as Unidentified Playing Objects (UPOs). According to LEGO, “Jordan says he will travel to space and discover the unknown in his alien spaceship fully equipped with futuristic gadgets, including night vision goggles to see other creatures.” Keep reaching for the stars, Jordan!

Photo: LEGO

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

Contact Me