Dear Friend,

Last week, we celebrated the two year anniversary of the historic Inflation Reduction Act. In the last two years, that legislation has had transformational impacts on Delaware. Through its investments in our climate and health care it has been lowering costs for families, creating good-paying jobs, and growing our economy.

I am proud of the work we did on this legislation, which will benefit the American people for generations. I am especially proud to have personally championed policies to lower the cost of drugs for our seniors and climate policies to invest in our ports and protect fenceline communities.

Here are just some of the ways the Inflation Reduction Act has been lowering costs for families and growing the middle class in the First State:

• More than 34,000 people on Medicare in Delaware take one of the 10 most expensive prescription drugs selected by the Biden-Harris Administration and will soon benefit from lower negotiated prices, announced by the Administration last week. You can read my full statement on this announcement here.
• 48,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Delaware are saving a total of $12.3 million on their prescription drugs compared to four years ago.
• 44,842 people signed up for a marketplace plan in Delaware will save an average of approximately $527 per month on their health care premiums this year.
• 6,200 people in Delaware who use insulin are saving an average of $420 annually thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s $35/month cap on insulin prices for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries.
• There has been over $65 million provided to Delaware for home energy rebate programs, which will help low-income households save on home energy bills.
• Over $3 million has been invested for new clean energy job creation.

In the News

In case you missed it, 6abc covered our Constituent Resource Fair. I’m glad so many Delawareans had the opportunity to connect with resources that will make their lives a little easier. Watch a clip of their coverage here.

Additionally, last week, I was proud to announce that my office has returned $2 million to Delawareans through casework and also that we've resolved more than 2,400 constituent cases with federal agencies. I am really proud of both of these achievements, especially as a former caseworker myself. Watch a clip of CoastTV’s coverage of this announcement here.

UPCOMING: Mobile Office Hours in Delmar!

My office will be hosting our next mobile office hours at the Delmar Public Library on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. Members of the casework team will be available to assist Delawareans who need help with federal agencies including passport and visa processing, securing your Social Security benefits, getting your tax refund from the IRS and more. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

It’s Time to Take the Challenge!

Delaware’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge is under way! This is a great opportunity for students interested in STEM to use their skills to solve the issues of today and tomorrow. Applications will be accepted now through October 24th. To find out more info on how to sign up, please see my website. You can also check out when I visited last year’s winners at their school to see one of the innovative projects first-hand. 

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. 
• Calculate Your Potential Savings: The Biden-Harris Administration’s actions are helping to lower costs and put more money back into the pockets of Americans across the country. You can calculate your potential savings at Invest.gov/Savings.
• 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.
• Protecting Your Data: Delaware’s Personal Data Privacy Act, legislation protecting the personal data of Delawareans, goes into effect on January 1, 2025. You can go to this website from the Delaware Department of Justice to find out how it will impact consumers, parents, and businesses in our state.

One of the most exciting and inspiring vendors at the fair was the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative (VWI).

The VWI is doing incredible work by training veterans in the art of watchmaking—a craft that requires precision and dedication. Every graduate of the VWI program is a veteran who gains valuable skills that open doors to a fulfilling career. In a time when workforce shortages are a persistent challenge, and supporting our veterans who are transitioning home is more important than ever, this initiative provides veterans with meaningful pathways to build a career after their service. In addition, challenges like veteran homelessness or suicide are prevented and our service members can thrive.

I want to send a heartfelt thank you to VWI Chairman Sam Cannan and Victor Anthony Elder, who just graduated from VWI! Both were at my Constituent Resource Fair, sharing valuable information with attendees. Victor is now a quartz watch technician, and I was so honored to hear his story and experience.

Congratulations, Victor, on your recent graduation! And thank you, VWI, for everything you do to empower our veterans and support our economy.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Victor Anthony Elder, a graduate of the Veterans Watchmaking Initiative’s six-week program

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

Contact Me