Dear Friend,

We know that we’re facing an affordable housing shortage in Delaware and across the country. Part of what contributes to this is restrictive zoning codes. That’s why, this week, I, alongside U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-Penn.), introduced the bicameral  Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, respectively. This comprehensive bill would empower state and local governments to address regulatory barriers to our affordable housing supply and cut through red tape by establishing new national frameworks, guidance, and information. It’s endorsed by more than 115 organizations and advocacy groups including Housing Alliance Delaware, Delaware League of Local Governments, Delaware State Housing Authority, and YWCA Delaware.

Above: Rep. Blunt Rochester participates in a ribbon cutting marking the completion of Phase I of the Solomon’s Court affordable housing initiative in Wilmington.

Our goal is to build more affordable housing and communities that are accessible to work, school, public transportation, and community resources. I’ll continue to work with Senator Fetterman to get this bill to President Biden’s desk. To learn more about the bill, click here.

This Week in Washington

Protecting the Right to Contraception Nationwide

For the first time in our nation’s history, a constitutional right was taken away from us because of the Dobbs decision - the right to abortion care. The right to contraception may be next.

As we approach the two-year mark of the Dobbs decision that overturned the protections of Roe v. Wade, I signed a discharge petition to force a vote on the House Floor on the Right to Contraception Act. A discharge petition is a legislative procedure to bring a bill to the floor for a vote.

Americans overwhelmingly agree that access to contraception must be protected. While I am encouraged that Delaware is working to expand access to contraception, the availability of contraception is under direct threat in states across the country. We must protect and expand our reproductive freedoms nationwide.

This Week in Delaware

“Opening the Box” to Good-Paying Jobs and Stronger Supply Chains in Kent County

I was proud to join Senator Carper and Senator Coons yesterday for a ribbon cutting at Delmarva Corrugated Packaging (DCP) in Dover. DCP manufactures corrugated boxes. For me, the theme was strength through partnerships. In attendance were the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Kent Economic Partnership, state and local officials, and labor. Together, we celebrated DCP's new 465,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and its investments in our manufacturing workforce, our economy, and the Dover community. We also had a chance to recognize DCP’s social responsibility partnership with Autism Delaware.

Companies like DCP are key players in our regional supply chains. Since the pandemic, I’ve been working to strengthen our supply chains, so we don’t face the disruptions that have the potential to impact our jobs, health, economy, and national security. It’s why I’m so proud of the bipartisan AND bicameral movement on my bill, the Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act, that passed the House last month and was introduced in the Senate. Stronger supply chains mean lower costs for Delawareans so strengthening our supply chains will continue to be a top priority of mine.

Seeing Federal Investments in Affordable Housing First-Hand

On the heels of the Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act’s introduction, I joined Sussex County Council President Mike Vincent and Sussex County Administrator Todd Lawson to discuss how federal investments through the Community Development Block Grant and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program are helping to keep people in their homes. We talked directly with a few Sussex County residents who shared their journeys of becoming homeowners and how these federal investments impacted them and their families. We also discussed the need for more affordable housing opportunities in Sussex County and how the Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act would help.

Left to right: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Sussex County Rehabilitation Program Coordinator Mike Jones, Sussex County President Mike Vincent, and homeowner Gina Mifflin.

Combatting the Opioid Epidemic in Sussex County

Yesterday, I was proud to join Senator Tom Carper to highlight the more than $1 million we secured in federal funding for Beebe Healthcare’s Community Mobile Health Clinic and Community Harm Reduction Outreach Project. While this year we have seen a modest improvement, in recent weeks, we’ve seen spikes in overdoses in Kent and Sussex counties. Beebe’s outreach project is delivering harm reduction services and resources including Narcan rescue kits, naloxone kits and training, HIV, HCV, and STI screening, and wound care.

Since January, Beebe has held over 90 outreach events and helped over 2,000 individuals in Sussex County. They are meeting patients where they are, and I’m proud to be a partner in their work to combat the opioid epidemic and save lives. Read more about the event in WRDE.

In case you missed it, I published an op-ed recently in the Delaware Business Times, titled “How I’m bringing Democrats and Republicans together to fix our broken supply chains.” I share what supply chains are, how disruptions impact our families and businesses, and why Delawareans should care about them. Read my op-ed here.

I also recently joined Sen. Tom Carper and Sen. Chris Coons in writing an op-ed about a major development at Dover Air Force Base for Delaware Online. Soon, Dover Air Force Base will be home to a state-of-the-art facility that will get our troops serving overseas the blood and blood products they need when they need them. I, along with the Senators, secured federal funding for the blood processing center that will make transporting blood to support servicemembers around the world easier and more efficient. Click here to read more.

LAST DAY TO SUBMIT INTERN APPLICATIONS IS MONDAY, 6/10!

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.

As we marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day this week, our constituent corner recognizes Sergeant Tom Anderson from Dover, a veteran of World War II who served on the renowned 23^rd Special HG Troops, also known as the Ghost Army. The Ghost Army was tasked with carrying out top-secret missions through battlefield deceptions. I was proud to support legislation last year that recognized Sergeant Anderson’s service to our state and nation called the Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act. This legislation, which was passed into law by President Biden, bestowed Congressional Gold Medals, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States Congress, to the remaining members of the Ghost Army including Sergeant Anderson. We owe him and all who served our nation in uniform a great debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

Photo: Ben Mace, Delaware News Journal

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

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