Dear Friend,

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. I am thinking of all the families in Delaware and across the country who know the unimaginable pain of losing a loved one to substance use. As we pause to remember the lives lost, let us recommit to our efforts to combat this epidemic, support pathways to recovery, and save lives.

Delaware continues to be one of the states hit the hardest by drug overdoses, with overdose deaths spiking in recent months in Kent and Sussex counties. I’m working to address this epidemic through a comprehensive approach. In June, I was proud to announce more than $1 million in federal funding that I secured for Beebe Healthcare’s Community Mobile Health Unit and Community Harm Reduction Outreach Project that is delivering harm reduction services and resources including Narcan rescue kits, naloxone kits and training, HIV, HCV, and STI screening, and wound care. As a member of the House Health Subcommittee, I’ve introduced legislation including the STOP Fentanyl Overdoses Act to address fentanyl as a primary contributor to the increase in overdoses nationwide and the Naloxone Affordability Act to ensure access to and affordability of Naloxone. I’m also a member of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force in Congress because this isn't just a Democrat or Republican issue – it impacts all of us. You can read more about my efforts here.

This Week in Delaware

OP-ED: Delaware’s returning citizens get a fair shot at a clean slate. Next stop, nationwide.

In case you missed it, this week, I penned an op-ed in The News Journal highlighting my bipartisan Clean Slate legislation that would provide a path to a second chance and a clean slate after eligible justice-involved individuals pay their debt to society. Too many face barriers in reentering the workforce, securing housing, getting an education, and participating in our economy. As a co-chair of the Bipartisan Second Chance Task Force, Clean Slate has been one of my top priorities throughout my time in Congress, and I am proud that it has continued to garner support from a broad coalition across the political spectrum. Delaware passed Clean Slate in 2021 making it one of twelve states to have done so! And on August 1st it went into effect. I encourage you to read my op-ed by clicking here to learn more about my work to provide a fair shot at a clean slate nationwide.

Calling on House Leadership to Protect Access to SNAP

Every five years, it is Congress’ responsibility to reauthorize the Farm Bill that extends funding for programs related to the farm safety net, conservation, food and disaster assistance programs, and more. This bill is typically crafted in a bipartisan fashion, but the House Committee on Agriculture has put forth a partisan bill that goes against that tradition. The current version would make drastic cuts to SNAP – $30 billion over the next decade. That would be the largest cut to SNAP in nearly two decades.

115,000 Delawareans rely on this critical program – and I am committed to protecting it. That’s why, this week, I joined my colleagues in the Democratic Women’s Caucus in sending a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging him to work with House Democrats to pass a bipartisan farm bill that helps women, families, and farmers. You can read our full letter here.

Opening the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy in Wilmington

As Delawareans head back to school, I want to wish all our students, educators, and staff across the First State a wonderful 2024-2025 school year! Recently, a brand-new elementary school opened in the heart of Wilmington – Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy. Its opening marked the beginning of a new era for the city’s students as this is Wilmington’s first new school in 50 years! My staff was proud to join local leaders and school staff at the grand opening to help celebrate this milestone for the city and its families last week.

Photo: Kelly Powers/Delaware News Journal

Maurice Pritchett Sr. was a legendary advocate for young people and their families. During his decades of service, he rose through the ranks and became the principal of the Bancroft School, a school he attended as a student. Mr. Pritchett was also a good friend to my dad, the late Ted Blunt. Watching them advocate together to make education more equitable in Wilmington inspired me in so many ways. There is truly no one more deserving of this honor than Mr. Pritchett, and I am so glad to see that his legacy of service and love for education will continue on through every student who walks through the doors of Pritchett Academy. Read more about the event here.

CALLING ALL STUDENTS: 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. 
• 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.

This Monday is Labor Day, so for this week’s constituent corner I want to celebrate the contributions of organized labor in Delaware and across the country. Labor Day isn’t about going to the beach or attending a backyard barbecue, it’s about reaffirming our commitment to standing with workers as they fight for better wages, workplace conditions, and benefits. As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor, I’ve seen first-hand how invaluable our workers and our unions are to our communities and our economy – and I’ll always stand with them. See below how the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering for workers:

As President Biden says, the middle class built America and unions built the middle class. Unions are why we have the weekend, the 40-hour work week, child labor laws, and so much more. And those gains continue to this day. Just this past week, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that thanks to the historic cost-saving legislation I championed last Congress such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, clean energy jobs are growing twice as fast as overall jobs - and many of them are union! Let’s keep this momentum going. Happy Labor Day!

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester with representatives of the Laborers’ International Union of North America.

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

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