Dear Friend,

We had a full week of bipartisan progress — from spreading awareness of the signs and symptoms of blood clots and protecting Delaware’s coastline to fighting for clean drinking water and advancing our Clean Slate efforts. Keep scrolling to learn more.

One Year of the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act

This week marked one year since I introduced the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act, bipartisan legislation that honors my late husband, Charles, who died from blood clots. The bill would launch a national campaign to spread awareness of the signs and symptoms of blood clots, which are highly preventable and treatable if discovered early. In addition, it would establish an advisory committee to streamline effective diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of blood clots as well as authorize a CDC study to better understand who and how many Americans are impacted.

Building on this effort, I unveiled a comprehensive toolkit during Blood Clot Awareness Month earlier this year focused on awareness, action, and advocacy. That toolkit has been uplifted by national health organizations and community advocacy groups and has been shared with Delawareans across our state. You can download your own copy of the toolkit here. You can also watch my floor speech about it by clicking below:

Government Shutdown Avoided

The House passed a bipartisan, short-term continuing resolution this week that will keep our government and agencies operating and prevent disruptions in supporting our military. Because of this legislation, we will avoid a government shutdown and provide relief to the American people who are concerned about their access to government resources. The House and Senate must now work together in good faith on full-year funding legislation, consistent with the bipartisan terms set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Bipartisanship is not only the right path forward – it is what the American people deserve.

Protecting Delaware’s Coastline and Ecosystems

On Tuesday, the House unanimously passed the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm (BEACH) Act, a bipartisan bill I led with Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, a Republican from Virginia. The bill would protect Delaware’s coastline and ecosystems by preventing taxpayer dollars from being used to develop ecologically sensitive areas.

As the lowest-lying state in the country, Delaware feels the impact of the climate crisis every day. That’s why I am committed to strengthening our coastal communities, especially against extreme weather events. The BEACH Act is a bipartisan effort to help us achieve that goal, not only in Delaware but nationwide. I was proud to author provisions that were passed as part of the final bill including extending disaster loan eligibility to aquaculture businesses for the first time and authorizing a study on coastal barrier areas vulnerable to extreme weather. Read more about the bill here.

Fighting for Clean Drinking Water

I also joined over 80 Democrats in calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget to expedite its review of the Biden Administration's proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). The LCRI would lower the lead action level to better protect public health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade.

As a co-founder of the Get the Lead Out Caucus, I’m working to ensure that communities in Delaware and across the country have access to clean drinking water — one of our most fundamental rights. If action is not taken swiftly, a rule set in place by the previous Administration would take effect that would be harmful to our drinking water and public health. We must get this done. You can read the full letter here.

Clean Slate Momentum!

I was glad to meet with The Clean Slate Initiative in Washington this week! I reiterated to them my commitment to getting my bipartisan Clean Slate Act into law. I’ve introduced this legislation every term I’ve served in the House – and it’s always been a bipartisan bill. Clean Slate would remove major barriers for justice-involved Americans by automatically sealing federal records for low-level, nonviolent drug offenses after their sentence is completed. This would make it easier for these Americans to find employment, secure housing, and access education. It’s about a simple proposition: those who have served their time and paid their debt to society deserve a second chance. And just this week, a companion bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, and Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky. 

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (left) pictured with Michael Bartley from Delaware Family Restoration Services (center) and Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative (right)

While we are still working to get this done on the federal level, our work has inspired different states to pass Clean Slate laws, including Delaware! Our Clean Slate law went into effect last month. I wrote an op-ed for The News Journal about what that means for Delaware and how we can make it a reality nationwide. You can read it here.

This Week in Delaware

Expanding Access to Critical Health Care Services in Sussex County

The Rosa Health Center in Georgetown, a nonprofit focused on providing critical health care services in Sussex County, broke ground on the expansion of its existing building this week. Last year, I secured $1 million in Community Project Funding for the project that will make critical renovations to the existing building and double its size.

Above: Son-Djerry Cameus, Kent and Sussex County Outreach Representative for Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Dr. Rama Peri, The Rosa Health Center’s medical director, in front of a sign announcing the project.

The Rosa Health Center estimates that the expansion of the facility would help increase its service population from 1,900 to 4,000. I was proud to visit the location in August 2023 to see the work the staff there are doing firsthand. As Delaware’s former Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services and a member of the Health Subcommittee in Congress, I’ll continue to bring funding back to Delaware to expand access to health care services, including for the uninsured, so individuals, families, and seniors across our state can stay healthy.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Dr. Peri at The Rosa Health Center during her visit in August 2023.

CALLING ALL STUDENTS: It’s Time to Take the Challenge!

Delaware’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge is underway! 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. For more information, please go to 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!
• NEW! Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): The State Department recently launched a new version of STEP. STEP is a free service for U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad to receive safety and security alerts and other local updates by email from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling in STEP also makes it easier to contact U.S. citizens during an emergency. You can sign up for these alerts at login.gov.
• 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.
• NEW! Free COVID Tests: Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, every household in the United States can get four free COVID tests that will be shipped to you through the United States Postal Service. You can order your tests today at covidtests.gov.

This week’s constituent corner celebrates two Delaware schools that were recently named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools – Major George S. Welch Elementary School in Dover and Cedar Lane Elementary School in Middletown! The program recognizes outstanding public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall high academic achievement or success in closing the achievement gap among diverse groups of students. Congratulations to the students, teachers, and faculty for being recognized as two of the top schools in the country! Go Riders and Go Eagles!

As always, If you ever need assistance with federal agencies, please contact my office. My team can help with a wide range of issues including (but not limited to):

• United States Postal Service
• Social Security Administration
• Veterans Affairs benefits and services
• Passport and visa processing
• Citizenship and naturalization

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

Contact Me