Dear Friend,

The recent storms we’ve seen have wreaked havoc across the Southeast, including Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The impact of these storms has been devastating, not just for the hardest-hit communities, but for our entire nation. I am praying for the families who have lost loved ones, their homes, and all who have been affected as well as the courageous members of the Delaware National Guard who were providing critical assistance in Florida. I also want to thank all the Delawareans who have volunteered their time and resources to help with recovery efforts.

As a reminder, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s website includes up-to-date information and resources for those impacted. Click here to view that page.

This Week in Washington

Actualizing a 100% Lead-Free Future

I recently joined over 80 of my congressional colleagues in calling on the Office of Management and Budget to finalize the Biden-Harris Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. I’m proud to share that this week, following my letter, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized a new rule to remove every lead pipe in America over the next decade! This accomplishment builds on my work to deliver clean drinking water in Delaware and across the country. In May, alongside Senator Tom Carper and Senator Chris Coons, I announced over $28 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to identify and replace lead pipes and help prevent lead poisoning among Delaware’s children and families. I am proud to have helped push for the swift finalization of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, bringing us closer than ever to actualizing a 100% lead-free future. You can read more about the announcement here.

This Week in Delaware

Reopening the St. Georges Bridge

Our infrastructure is critical to our economy and our safety. It’s why I was proud to join Senator Tom Carper, the Army Corps of Engineers, state leaders, and community members to reopen the St. Georges Bridge this week. For more than 80 years, the bridge has helped drive our economic activity, transporting drivers and bikers over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to work, to school, to our small businesses, and to communities across our state. Throughout the past 18 months, the Army Corps and contractors have been working tirelessly updating key structural features and replacing the decking, medians, and drainage systems among other improvements. This project, funded by more than $46 million in federal appropriations that I helped secure, marks a renaissance for the bridge – one that will strengthen our infrastructure, grow our economy, and uplift our communities.

From Vision to Reality: A New Harrington Public Library

My dad, Ted Blunt, loved libraries and always said that they were our passports to the world. For decades, the Harrington Public Library did just that. But the original space, a former funeral parlor, was only 2,000 square-feet. I visited the library back in 2021 and it was clear to me that the library needed more space to serve more residents and house more books. It’s why I was proud to work with Senator Tom Carper and Senator Chris Coons to deliver more than $40 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan to improve our state’s libraries. Over $5 million went to building a brand-new, state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot Harrington Public Library. This week, I had the honor to help cut the ribbon on the new space and welcome the Harrington community back to the library. I am proud to have done my part in bringing this new library from a vision to reality. You can read more about the new library in Delaware State News.

Celebrating National Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day in Dover

This past Wednesday marked National Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day – a day dedicated to showing our young people ways to be more active and to get to school safely. To celebrate, I joined students and faculty from W. Reily Brown Elementary in Dover and local leaders in walking to school. Our students are the leaders of tomorrow, and I'm proud that our educators are helping foster these important habits that promote healthy living and a greater sense of community (and school pride!).

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO GO: Congressional App Challenge Apps due October 24!

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!
• 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 the life and legacy of former Lewes Mayor Ted Becker, who recently passed away. Whether serving as a member of Lewes City Council, Mayor of Lewes, or commissioner of the Delaware River and Bay Authority, Mayor Becker was deeply committed to giving back to the city and state that gave him so much pride throughout his life. I had the pleasure of working with Mayor Becker on initiatives to strengthen our water infrastructure, expand the Cape May-Lewes Ferry system, and protect our environment. He always provided wise counsel on improving the quality of life for our residents – a shared goal of ours. Beyond policy, I’ll miss celebrating the Fourth of July and attending local events with him in Lewes each year. I’m grateful to have been able to call him a friend and partner in this work, and like so many throughout our state, I will miss him dearly.

Let us take comfort in knowing that his life was well-lived, and that his legacy will endure through all of us. My prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

From L-R: Former Lewes Mayor Ted Becker, Senator Tom Carper, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Scott Thomas, Executive Director of Southern Delaware Tourism, and Heath Gehrke, Director of Ferry Operations at the Delaware River and Bay Authority

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