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Dear Friend,
Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt. The Senate was out of session this week which allowed me to spend quality time back in Delaware with you and observe Memorial Day on behalf of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I traveled up and down the state for important meetings, tours, and conversations with members of our community. Here’s a look at some of our work!
This Week in Delaware
Highlighting Housing in Delaware
Across our state, communities are feeling the impact of America’s housing shortage. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, we have a shortage of 4.5 million homes. In Delaware and the nation, this challenge cuts across income levels and has been decades in the making. I believe that housing is not only a human right, but that it supports local economies and our education system. And because access to affordable housing is a priority for Delawareans, it’s one of my top priorities in the Senate.
That's why, on Thursday, I started the day at the Delaware National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Annual Conference in Millsboro.
ABOVE: It was great to be among so many allies in the effort to bring more affordable housing to Delaware at DE NAHRO’s annual conference.
Next, I went to Lewes where I toured the construction site for what will become Chapel Branch Apartments.This apartment complex will be the first publicly funded affordable housing built in Lewes in more than 20 years. Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and partners in the private sector, local officials, and community members, Lewes will gain 42 new units for families in this first phase, as well as community programming to support them and build stability. The plan also calls for a public transportation stop because we know transportation and infrastructure are key. This will be a huge benefit not only to residents of Chapel Branch as they navigate work and life in Sussex County and across the state but also to residents throughout the nearby community as well. We need more developments like Chapel Branch in Delaware and I’m working hard to make that a reality.
In fact, my first piece of legislation in the Senate was the Housing Supply Frameworks Act, bipartisan legislation to provide frameworks for state and local governments in their efforts to cut through red tape and overhaul zoning laws. The bill would make it easier for towns like Lewes to build housing based on their community needs.
Check out a clip of my tour on my Instagram HERE. You can also watch local coverage of the visit HERE.
ABOVE: We need more housing developments like Chapel Branch Apartments in the First State.
Later, I stopped in Seaford to meet with Susan Kent, the executive director of Better Homes of Seaford (BHS), Dan Henderson, a BHS board member and Seaford Vice Mayor, and Veronica Jones and Tammy Baynum from East Coast Property Management at their Chandler Heights Community Room. BHS was established in 1969 to improve low-income housing within the community. Our conversation was centered on the work BHS is doing, the challenges they are facing, and how we can help at the federal level. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment in the fight to increase access to housing opportunities and BHS will continue to be a critical partner in that work.
ABOVE: Our conversation with Better Homes of Seaford was so important in this moment.
Small Businesses in Millsboro
As we closed out Small Business Month, I joined Executive Director Nadine Timpanaro from the Millsboro Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Kimberly Kaan, and several local Millsboro officials, including the Chief of Police, for a walking tour of some small businesses in town. We went to Nectar Cafe and Juice Bar, Black Cat Antiques, and Kaisy’s Delights. We were even asked to join guys at a main street barber shop for selfies. I was glad to learn a little more about each of these wonderful businesses and enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate the hard work being done to strengthen the local economy in Millsboro and across Sussex County.
ABOVE: Thank you to the Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce and local Millsboro officials for hosting me.
ABOVE: Photos from my visits to Nectar Cafe and Juice Bar (left), Black Cat Antiques (center), and Kaisy’s Delights (right)
Observing Memorial Day
On Friday, I joined the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the War Memorial Plaza in New Castle, hosted by the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs, the Delaware Office of Veterans Services, and the Delaware River & Bay Authority. Together with Gold Star Families, veterans, service members, and local leaders, we honored the memory of all the Delawareans who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.
We were joined by President Joe Biden at this year’s event. The day also marked the 10 year anniversary of the passing of his son, Beau Biden, a veteran and former Delaware Attorney General. It was an honor to stand with President Biden on this solemn day of remembrance.
ABOVE: I was honored to pay my respects to those who gave the last full measure of devotion on behalf of our nation.
The Impact of Tariffs on Our Businesses
This week, I visited a warehouse in New Castle with the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America to hear about the impact of the President’s tariffs on local businesses – particularly in light of their on again, off again nature. It is apparent we should be working together to institute a deliberate, thoughtful, and strategic trade policy on behalf of our nation, not sowing uncertainty into our economy and raising prices on hardworking families.
ABOVE: My tour of this warehouse made it clear: the President’s tariffs are having a real impact on businesses in our community which will be felt across the board.
Investing in Our Future
Delaware has always taken pride in being at the cutting edge of research and development. That’s why the work being done at the Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park (CRISP) by companies like Solenis and Prelude Therapeutics is so important.
As the founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Future of Work Caucus in the House and a former Delaware Secretary of Labor, this was a fascinating visit for me. The progress that has been made at CRISP since the last time I was there is impressive, and I am excited to see what the businesses located there will continue to bring to our state. One of the goals of the CRISP campus is to build an innovation ecosystem that can create good jobs, attract and retain talented professionals, and help solve the challenges of today and tomorrow on behalf of our state, nation, and even world.
We ended the visit by heading to Ducklings, the on-site early learning center at CRISP. Accessible child care is an essential building block to workforce development. There’s no better way to cap off a week in Delaware than by spending time with our state’s future leaders!
ABOVE: At the Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park, I was glad to visit Solenis (left), Prelude Therapeutics (center), and Ducklings (right).
In the next few weeks and months, my Republican colleagues in Congress will continue to push their harmful budget bill forward. Now more than ever, the voices of the people are critical. I am committed to sharing the stories of Delawareans who would be impacted by these dangerous cuts. This week, I’m highlighting the story of Renee from Dover.
Renee’s daughter was born with hearing loss and other complex medical needs. Through Medicaid, Renee has been able to provide her daughter with the speech, occupational, physical, and hearing support therapies she needs.
But, Renee told me: “Cuts to Medicaid would be devastating. They would jeopardize our daughter’s access to essential therapies and supports, delay early interventions, and shift costs onto families already navigating complex care systems. Reductions in funding would undermine the stability, progress, and dignity that Medicaid brings to children with disabilities across Delaware.”
Medicaid faces a very real threat but the fight isn’t over. I’ll keep working to protect Medicaid because I know how much it means to Delawareans like Renee and her family.
Do you have a story to share? I want to hear from you! Please click here to share your story.
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 Jaclyn Durant, the 2025 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year. As the daughter, sister, and mother of three family members with master's degrees in social work, I am particularly excited that Jaclyn is a school social worker at Richey Elementary in the Red Clay Consolidated School District! When it comes to her students, Jaclyn is focused on their emotional and practical needs – caring for the “whole child.”
Educating and ensuring the well-being of our youth is among our greatest obligations and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who live this mission each and every day. Congratulations, Jaclyn, and keep up the great work!
ABOVE: Jaclyn Durant, the 2025 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year
Yours in service,
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester
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