|
Dear Friend,
Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt. I want to start by wishing those who observe a happy and holy weekend.
It was great to see so many of you during my week at home in Delaware. Before I fill you in, I have some exciting news out of DC — the introduction of my second bill!
Along with Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), I officially introduced the National Nursing Workforce Center Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would help address nursing shortages by supporting nursing workforce centers across the country.
As I heard during my Nursing Workforce Roundtable last Friday, this bill couldn’t come at a more important time. I’m proud to continue our fight for more nurses, more jobs, and healthier communities.
Your Voice is Making a Difference
As the administration guts programs proven to be vital to our economy and health, my colleagues and I have been sending important oversight letters seeking answers from cabinet officials. This week, we saw two of our letters make a difference.
I sent a letter seeking answers when a critical meeting that convenes vaccine experts was postponed indefinitely. This week, that meeting was finally held. There is still uncertainty about the future of the vaccine panel given Secretary Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism, but I remain committed to holding the administration to task on this issue.
I also joined Senator Chris Coons, alongside an effort in the House led by Congresswoman Sarah McBride, in sending a letter seeking the restoration of funding to 10 Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers, including one in Delaware. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network is a public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions by helping small and medium-sized manufacturers grow, make operational improvements, and reduce risk. Ultimately, it expands homegrown manufacturing, creates jobs, and strengthens our economy.
This week, that funding was temporarily restored. We will continue to advocate for critical investments in our state and country.
Growing our Medical Workforce
Shortly after introducing the National Nursing Workforce Center Act, I had the opportunity to visit Bayhealth Hospital’s Kent Campus in Dover. I met with Bayhealth leadership and staff, toured the existing facility, was briefed on plans for modernization and expansion, and learned about their Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs. These programs are working to address health care workforce shortages in central Delaware and enhance the quality of care for Delawareans.
ABOVE: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester pictured with Bayhealth leadership
Standing with the Food Bank of Delaware
A few weeks ago, the Trump administration canceled deliveries of 19 truckloads of food to the Food Bank of Delaware, which distributes food across the entire state. As a result, they lost over 900,000 meals that would have helped feed Delaware families.
I was proud to visit the Food Bank’s Newark location to show my support for their work. I had the chance to tour their new Healthy Pantry Center, which received federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, a bill I voted for in 2021. While there, we filmed a quick video highlighting the impact of these cuts on the Food Bank and the people who need it. Click the link to check it out!
ABOVE: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester speaking with Cathy Kanefsky, president & CEO, and Chad Robinson, vice president of external affairs, in the Food Bank of Delaware’s Newark warehouse
Fighting for Accessible Health Care
As Delaware’s former Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services and as a new member of the Senate committee that oversees health care policy, I’m committed to making health care equitable and accessible in Delaware and throughout our nation. Federally qualified health centers, like Henrietta Johnson Medical Center, are critical partners in this work.
This week, I visited their facility and discussed how funding cuts are impacting their operations and our community’s health. I assured them I’ll keep fighting to restore and protect access to quality, affordable care.
L-R: Dr. Yvette Gbemudu, HJMC chief medical officer; Deb Parker, HJMC chief operating officer; Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester; and Shay Scott, HJMC chief executive officer in front of a photo of the Honorable Henrietta Johnson
A Day in Laurel
On Wednesday, I started my day at Laurel High School — home of the Bulldogs — where I toured the campus and met with students. From teacher recruitment and retention to mental health services for students, the issues we discussed make real the need for national and local leadership and efforts. It is why I have been very vocal about how harmful the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education would be for students and their families across the nation. This visit only reaffirmed that we should all be standing up in defense of our kids’ education.
Our team also sat down with community residents and End Community Violence Now and Operation West Laurel, two organizations working on violence prevention and ensuring Sussex County receives the support it needs to have safe communities.
ABOVE: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, Laurel School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Larrimore, and Laurel High School Principal Patrina Giles meeting with a class of students
In the afternoon, I took part in a listening lunch with community development partners and toured The Ramble, a Downtown Development District central to the “Reimagine Laurel” campaign. In addition to expanding affordable housing and creating new small businesses, this initiative will improve water quality while incentivizing economic and recreational development.
Local elected officials, non-profit housing developers, and residents, in addition to representatives from the Sea Grant College Program, participated in the briefing. As the Ranking Member of the Oceans, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee, I have been tracking the Trump administration’s threats to federal funding for this program that brings science and communities together to solve our greatest challenges.
The underlying message from Laurel as they look to the future is they are a small town with a big heart and “Community comes through unity!”
ABOVE: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester and Brian Shannon, Director of the Laurel Redevelopment Coalition, looking out over Broad Creek
Local Impacts of President Trump’s Tariffs
Thank you to Sumuri for hosting me in Magnolia this week. Sumuri is a small business dealing with supply chain disruptions, price increases, and uncertainty exacerbated by President Trump’s tariffs. Small businesses, and ultimately, American consumers, are going to pay the price for these ill-conceived trade wars. It’s time for a responsible trade policy.
ABOVE: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester speaking with Sumuri co-founders Steve and Ailyn Whalen
Cutting the Ribbon on Building X
I was proud to represent our congressional delegation at the ribbon-cutting celebration for Building X at the University of Delaware. From a fire in McKinley Hall to a state-of-the-art modern facility, this project was made possible by a $41 million investment from the American Rescue Plan Act. It will foster interdisciplinary research, scientific collaboration, and innovation as we endeavor to cure diseases such as Alzheimer’s and solve global challenges like the climate crisis. Congratulations to the Blue Hen family — especially the researchers, faculty, and students!
ABOVE: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester joined public officials and university stakeholders to cut the ribbon on Building X at the University of Delaware
UPCOMING: Mobile Office Hours in New Castle
My office will host our next mobile office hours event at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center on Tuesday, April 29th. Members of our casework team will be available to help Delawareans in need of assistance. To RSVP, click here.
Below are some helpful resources for you:
- Cybersecurity Training: If you’re a small business owner with a cooperative agreement or grant with the SBA, you can access brand-new cybersecurity training designed by Delaware’s award-winning Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Visit northstarcert.americassbdc.org.
- Lower Energy Costs: You can lower your energy costs thanks to tax credits and rebates made available by the Inflation Reduction Act. Learn more at energy.gov/save.
- Look Before You Book: Before you book your next international trip, make sure your passport is up to date! Visit travel.state.gov to check your passport expiration date, apply for a new passport, and more.
- Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): Before you go overseas, consider downloading STEP, a free service that will send you safety and security alerts from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Travel with peace of mind and enroll today at mytravel.state.gov/s/step.
- 988 National Suicide Prevention Helpline: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org, the 24/7, free and confidential support National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
- Delaware 211: Delawareans in need of emergency housing, utility assistance, food assistance, and more should 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 at exchanges.state.gov/us.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: Medicare Part D beneficiaries can spread out the costs of prescription drugs over the course of a year thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Payment plans have zero-interest installments and a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap. Learn more at medicare.gov/prescription-payment-plan.
This week’s constituent corner honors all the brilliant student innovators who presented at Delaware State University’s Innovation Venture Summit, especially the event’s winners: the creators of Solution Station, Agribonum, and AgroVision! This year’s summit focused on innovations in agriculture, and the solutions presented by the 2025 finalists have the potential to revolutionize the way we grow and protect our food supply, farmers, and planet for generations.
ABOVE: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester learning about the participants’ projects at the Innovation Venture Summit
Yours in service,
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester
|
