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

Dear Friend,

This week, one of the bipartisan and bicameral bills I’m leading with Senator Tom Carper, the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act (BEACH) Act, passed the Senate unanimously! Having also passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously earlier this year, the legislation is now headed to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. As extreme weather becomes more frequent due to the climate crisis, this bill will protect Delawareans and our natural resources from hazards including flooding, storm surge, wind erosion, and sea level rise. This is an issue I have worked on since my first term in Congress, including leading and securing passage of legislation such as the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act. The BEACH Act specifically includes policies I authored to extend disaster loan eligibility to aquaculture businesses, which produce fish and shellfish in controlled environments, and improve our understanding of how extreme weather affects our coastal barrier areas. You can read more about the legislation here.

Championing Bone Health

I was proud to receive the Bone Health Champion Award from the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) this week for my efforts to increase awareness around women’s health, including bone health. Women can lose up to 20% of bone density during menopause, and the risk for a fracture is greater than a heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer combined. It’s one of the reasons why I introduced the bipartisan WARM Act and the comprehensive Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act in Congress to advance our menopause movement! I look forward to continuing to work on these critical issues.

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (right) receives the Bone Health Champion Award from Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation CEO Claire Gill (left).

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (right) receives the Bone Health Champion Award from Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation CEO Claire Gill (left).

REMINDER: 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.

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 the 10 innovative small businesses that won the Delaware Division of Small Business’ Encouraging Development, Growth, and Expansion (EDGE) Competition! Small businesses are the economic engines of our communities, and ensuring they have access to capital is paramount to their success. There were two categories for the competition: STEM and Entrepreneur, and the winners are listed below. As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor, I’m excited for the future of these small businesses and entrepreneurs and look forward to seeing them thrive. You can read more about them here.

STEM Category: