Let Me Be Blunt: Weekly Update from Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester banner image

Dear Friend,

This week, I was proud to join an overwhelmingly bipartisan majority of my colleagues in voting for the Social Security Fairness Act. This legislation would repeal the harmful Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) – two provisions added to the Social Security Act in 1983 that unfairly reduce or eliminate earned Social Security benefits for retired public servants such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers. It’s simple: those who have dedicated their careers to serving our communities deserve to get their hard-earned retirement benefits.

Honoring Our Veterans

On Veterans Day, Delaware and the nation came together to honor those who have served our country in uniform. I was grateful to join the Veterans Day Ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in New Castle hosted by the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs (DCVA), the Delaware Office of Veterans Services (OVS), and the Delaware River and Bay Authority. We reflected on the service, selflessness, and sacrifice of our state’s veterans, servicemembers, and their families.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester giving remarks at the Veterans Day Ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in New Castle.

It’s critical that we continue to serve those who have served us; it’s our sacred obligation to do so. It’s why I’m proud that this year alone, my office has closed out 195 cases assisting veterans across our state with securing disability payments and quality health care. We have also worked on successfully helping veterans acquire DD-214s and full military records. I will continue to be an advocate for our veterans on Capitol Hill through transformative laws such as the PACT Act, which was the largest expansion of VA benefits in history. It has helped enroll more than 1,200 veterans for VA health benefits in Delaware, which includes a record number of women veterans. And as we close out National Veterans Small Business Week, I’ll also continue to work to ensure our veterans have access to employment opportunities and the tools to start their own businesses once they return back home.

Servicemembers during a Veterans Day salute.

Office Closure and Constituent Casework Operations Update

It has been my honor to serve you in the U.S. House of Representatives and to provide you with this weekly newsletter where I’ve shared updates on my work on behalf of the First State. As we look toward the future and begin navigating the transition to our Senate office, our team would like to provide you with an update on our operations, including our constituent casework, in order to serve you to the best of our ability.

While our physical office in Georgetown is now closed, and as of November 6th, our Washington, DC and Wilmington offices will be operating at limited capacity, Delawareans experiencing issues with federal agencies during this transition period should contact the Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons. For your information, below are answers to some questions you may have about this process:

New Cases

I am looking to get assistance with one of the following issues: 1) refund from the IRS, 2) obtaining Social Security and/or Veterans Benefits, 3) problems with Medicare, 4) renewing U.S. Passport and/or Visa, 5) Immigration help. Who should I contact?

While our office is no longer able to open new cases with federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security, or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons is available to assist you.

Existing Cases

I currently have a case open with your office. What happens to it?

- If you have an open case with my office, our casework team will continue to assist you and will reach out with any updates on your case before our physical office closure on December 4th. After the offices close, our team will be working remotely through the end of the year. You can still contact us by calling the Wilmington office at 302-830-2330 or the Washington, DC office at 202-225-4165.

What happens if my case is not resolved before your office officially closes?

Our casework team is working hard to resolve as many cases as possible before our office officially closes.
Given that the response time for some cases with federal agencies can vary from weeks to months, if a case is not resolved before our office closes, constituents will have the option of either ending the case or transferring it to the Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons.

Additional Assistance

I am in need of resources related to obtaining employment, securing housing, getting food assistance, accessing mental health services or something else. Can I still call your office?
- Yes. If you are experiencing issues in obtaining employment, securing housing, getting food assistance, accessing mental health services or something else, please call my Wilmington office at 302-830-2330 to speak with a member of my staff.

Reminder: Open Enrollment is Underway!

November 1 marked the beginning of the open enrollment period! If you sign up before January 15, 2025, your coverage will begin February 1, 2025. If you sign up before December 15, 2024, your coverage will start on January 1, 2025. This year, the average person in Delaware saved $1,080 on their premiums thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which I was proud to champion in Congress. Go to Healthcare.gov or CuidadodeSalud.gov today to find a new plan or renew your current plan.

And as a reminder, the Medicare Open Enrollment period runs through December 7! Thanks to the IRA, we are lowering health care and prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries, including capping the cost of insulin at $35/month. As a result of the IRA, it’s estimated that 48,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Delaware will save a total of $12.3 million in out-of-pocket costs for their prescription medications this year. I’ll always be a champion in Congress for our seniors. To change your plan or select a new plan, be sure to go to Medicare.gov.

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.
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.
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 recognizes Mr. Robert Quinn, a 100-year-old veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He served in World War II and earned a Purple Heart for his service. I was proud to present him with one of my official Congressional Challenge Coins on Veterans Day. Based on the tradition of military challenge coins, members of Congress can award personalized challenge coins to constituents to recognize exceptional service and their contributions to our communities. On behalf of Delaware, I extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Quinn for all he’s done to protect our nation and our freedoms.