Dear Friend,

Welcome to a special Thanksgiving edition of our weekly newsletter! Ahead of the holiday tomorrow, I wish you all a happy, safe, and relaxing Thanksgiving with your loved ones. May this be a time filled with togetherness and gratitude.

Be sure to keep scrolling for some updates from me and my team.

The BEACH Act has been signed into law!

Last week, I shared that 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. Exciting update: President Biden has signed it into law! You can read more about how the legislation will help protect Delaware’s natural resources and coastal communities here.

The State of the Base is Strong

On Monday, I joined the Dover Air Force Base and the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce for the annual “State of the Base” Briefing. This event serves as an opportunity for the Base to come together with the businesses and local community to strengthen its local and global impact. The scale of the Base’s contributions to our country is immense – from performing dignified transfers to providing key assistance to our allies. And at a time when our state and nation are facing challenges we’ve never experienced before – from cyberattacks by non-state actors to artificial intelligence – the Base’s work has never been more important. It’s why I’m proud to be working in a bipartisan way to ensure we have a national supply chain strategy in place so that the Base can get the materials it needs to stay prepared. And as we look to the future of the Base, I think about the children of servicemembers of which there are more than 1.6 million nationwide. I’m committed to ensuring that the families of servicemembers are always supported and cared for through my work in Congress.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester giving remarks at the annual State of the Base briefing

L-R: Colonel Eric J. Rivero, Commander of the 512th Airlift Wing; Brian Stetina, past Chair of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce; Senator Chris Coons; Evans Armantrading, Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors’ Vice Chair of Military Affairs; Senator Tom Carper; Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester; Colonel William C. McDonald, Commander of the 436th Airlift Wing; Dina Vendetti, President of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce

Investing in Dover’s Capitol Park

Investments in our children are investments in our future. It’s why I was proud to join Senators Carper and Coons, as well as Kent County leaders, to cut the ribbon on a revitalized playground for the Capitol Park neighborhood in Dover. It was funded by an investment from the American Rescue Plan Act, which I was proud to champion in Congress. Previously, rusted swing sets, a basketball court missing its rim, and other signs of wear reminded us that this park needed improvements to meet the needs of today’s families. With accessible features for children with disabilities and improved safety surfaces, this park is now a space where all children can play, learn, and grow in a safe and welcoming environment. As a mother and grandmother, I understand the importance of having a place where children can play freely, safely, and joyfully. I know this playground will serve as a cornerstone of Capitol Park for generations to come—a place where kids can dream, families can gather, and memories can be made.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester joins elected and community leaders to cut the ribbon on a revitalized playground for Dover’s Capitol Park neighborhood

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 celebrates Roshik Patibandla, a student from Middletown. Roshik is the winner of this year’s Congressional App Challenge! Our office received many outstanding submissions from all over our state for this year’s challenge, but Roshik’s app stood out. Named RoadSafe, Roshik’s app aims to utilize AI technology to help enhance driver safety, aiming to prevent accidents on roads across the First State. Congratulations, Roshik, and keep up the innovative work!

Yours in service,

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of Congress

Contact Me