Dear Friend,

Welcome to another edition of Let Me Be Blunt. This week, we saw Republicans in Congress advance part of the President’s agenda in their budget bill that passed in the House. The impact of this legislation is serious. As someone who served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I am deeply concerned with the massive proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. If the administration succeeds, American families could be impacted by the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history. Currently, Medicaid covers 72 million people – including seniors in nursing homes (3 in 5 nursing home residents in Delaware), 2 in 5 child births (42% of births in Delaware), and health care coverage for 1 in 5 Americans. This is only one of the programs at risk to pay for tax breaks for the ultra wealthy.

To address these issues at the start of the week, I joined Senator Chris Coons, Congresswoman Sarah McBride, and Attorney General Kathy Jennings to host a virtual town hall for Delawareans. The actions of the Administration – from the reckless firing of public servants to halting already-approved funding for key services and agencies – continue to sow chaos and confusion, while costs remain high, despite the President’s promises to lower them on day one. We are working together as a team to inform and serve you.

To that end, we were joined on the call by 2,500 Delawareans – a testament to how much people across the First State are engaged in what is going on. Along with our Attorney General, your federal delegation will continue to use every tool at our disposal to stand up for you.

This Week in Washington

Clean Water for our Rural Communities

On Thursday, I was proud to be honored with the Congressional Champion Award by the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), a national network of non-profit partners, and Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP), which serves Delaware. These organizations work every day to ensure our communities are safe, healthy, whole, and supported with something as essential as clean drinking water – which should be a right, not a luxury.

As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, I was humbled to receive this honor on behalf of those who have, for decades, worked to bring clean drinking water to the residents of Delaware, like the late Harold Truxon from Sussex County. I will continue our efforts with local communities, non-profits, and government agencies because “water is life!”

Examining the Impacts of the Trump-Musk Attack on the CFPB

Along with my colleagues on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, I participated in a hearing to examine the impacts of the attack on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by President Trump and Elon Musk. The CFPB was created in the aftermath of the Great Recession to protect all Americans from scammers and predatory practices. It helps ensure credit card companies, banks, loan servicers, and credit reporting agencies treat you fairly and with transparency. Most importantly, it protects your hard-earned money.

Since its creation, over $20 billion has been returned to nearly 200 million Americans. And in Delaware, over 27,000 consumers have had $14 million returned to them. At the hearing, I specifically asked a former CFPB employee how the decimation of the agency would affect our nation’s veterans and their families. See that conversation here. See my full remarks and exchange with the witnesses here.

Hearing for Deputy Secretary of Labor Nominee

Also this week, as a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), I had the opportunity to question the nominee for Deputy Secretary of Labor, Keith Sonderling. In his opening remarks, Mr. Sonderling expressed the Trump administration’s goal to “put American workers first” but it was obvious that doesn’t include those who work at the Department of Labor. Staying silent as thousands of federal workers are intimidated and fired isn't what 'putting American workers first' looks like. You can see our full exchange here.

This Week in Delaware

Celebrating National TRIO Day

Grateful to be home, I joined hundreds of students from across our state last Saturday in Dover for National TRIO Day. After an introduction by Delaware Technical Community College’s president, Dr. Mark Brainard, I delivered the keynote address. The event celebrated 60 years of the federal TRIO programs. The TRIO programs have been helping students who may be first-generation college students, low-income, or students with disabilities pursue their education from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. While I aimed to provide the students with an empowering message, they are the ones who inspired me.

What makes TRIO so special is the focus on academic excellence, college and career preparation, and leadership skills development. Bottom line, they give students the tools to be who they aspire to be – and not let others define them. Before the event, one student shared her interest in my college major, international relations, and another dreams of a career in astronomy. The sky really is the limit for them!

ABOVE: Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester takes a student’s question. 

An Evening with The Connect

I also joined The Connect for their Inaugural Young Professionals Gala in Wilmington. The Connect is a non-profit focused on educating, empowering, and retaining young professionals here in Delaware. I was glad to be with them to celebrate all they do for our economy and their communities.

ABOVE: Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester is pictured with The Connect’s leadership.

In Case You Missed It...

I recently sat down with New York Magazine’s The Cut and PBS Newshour alongside Senator Angela Alsobrooks, to talk about our work in the Senate. The two of us may have made history on Election Day this past year, but really, we are focused on making an positive impact on the lives of our constituents. You can read The Cut’s article here and view the segment on PBS Newshour with Geoff Bennett here.

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. 
• 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 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 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. 
• 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, went into effect on January 1st. 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 them today at covidtests.gov.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: As a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare Part D beneficiaries will be able to spread prescription drug costs across the year. These payment plans will include zero-interest installments as well as a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap. Learn more at medicare.gov/prescription-payment-plan.

This week’s constituent corner honors Anthony Gray-Bolden, the dean of Cab Calloway School of the Arts. He was recently announced as the 2025 Delaware Principal of the Year!

Dean Gray-Bolden brings more than 24 years of experience in education to the table and is dedicated to empowering his students to reach their full potential. A talented artist himself, Dean Gray-Bolden is passionate about the value of an art-infused education and dedicated to lifelong learning.

Congratulations, Dean Anthony Gray-Bolden, and keep up the great work!

PHOTO: Cab Calloway School of the Arts

Yours in service, Lisa Blunt Rochester United States Senator

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