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Dear Friend,
Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt and Happy Pride Month! To every member of the LGBTQ+ community in Delaware and beyond, we celebrate and stand with you. Now more than ever, we are called upon to protect the rights of our LGBTQ+ neighbors and defend the progress we’ve made toward a nation where everyone is able to live safely and openly.
This Week in Washington
Fighting Back
Positive news: the Trump administration just temporarily reversed their threat to take Social Security from seniors with student loans.
Last month, the administration announced it would garnish Social Security checks from seniors who have outstanding student loan debt. This action wouldn’t speed up repayment, but it would threaten the economic stability of countless seniors in Delaware and across the country.
This decision would have impacted over half a million Americans and while this has been paused, keep making your voice heard and keep sharing your stories.
To listen to one of those stories, CLICK HERE.
It’s another reminder that your voice has a real impact. Keep speaking up.
Shining a Light on the Threats to Food Assistance Programs
This week, my Democratic colleagues and I put a spotlight on Republican efforts to undermine food security for people across our nation. The Trump budget that was passed by House Republicans would make the deepest cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in its history.
These proposed cuts put 37,000 Delawareans at risk of losing access to food assistance as grocery costs rise. I will continue to speak out and hold Senate Republicans accountable as they consider making these harmful cuts law. We only need four Republicans to have the courage to stop this dangerous bill in its tracks. And I need your help.
Would you or someone you know be impacted if food assistance is cut out of the budget? Share your story here. Your voice makes a difference.
ABOVE: My colleagues and I are urgently warning about the impact the Republicans’ budget bill would have on food assistance for those who need it.
Standing with Planned Parenthood
It was a pleasure to meet with Alexis McGill Johnson, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, to discuss how we can protect the critical work they do in communities across our nation. Planned Parenthood’s sexual and reproductive health care services are invaluable to Delawareans, and I am committed to defending them from attacks.
ABOVE: I am proud to stand with Planned Parenthood president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson in the fight to protect sexual and reproductive health care.
Celebrating the Impact of Video Games
I want to thank the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) for the honor of being named a winner of this year’s Interactive Entertainment Impact Award alongside Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and the Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne.
The data is clear in ESA’s most recent annual report: Americans are engaging with video games (from Wordle to gaming consoles) at all ages and across genders. Half of people aged 61 to 79 play, as do 36% of folks ages 80 to 90. From issues like intellectual property and job creation, to mental stimulation for memory, there are many intersections in this industry.
As your congresswoman, I led the Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act. It was a bipartisan bill that would support career and technical training through immersive technology like VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality). My work was geared toward taking this technology from gaming to job training. That work continues.
I look forward to partnering with organizations like ESA as we think about how to leverage these tools in career and technical training for our workforce.
Congratulations to the Senate Pages
I was proud to give remarks at the closing ceremony for the 2025 Spring class of United States Senate Pages at the Capitol. Pages play critical roles in Washington, from preparing the Senate Chamber for session, to delivering correspondence around the Capitol, and working on the Senate Floor. Their work was more relevant this year than ever given that they were witness to the longest presidential speech to a joint session of Congress in recent history and the all-time record for the longest speech on the Senate floor from Senator Cory Booker. Alumni of this program include former vice presidents, senators, and members of Congress! I truly am excited to see all that these brilliant future leaders will go on to achieve.
ABOVE: I truly am excited to see all the 2025 Spring class of United States Senate Pages goes on to achieve.
This Week in Delaware
The Congressional Delegation’s Service Academy Night
There are few better ways to give back to our nation than to attend one of our country’s prestigious service academies. Every year, I have the distinct privilege of nominating bright young leaders from Delaware to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Yesterday, Senator Chris Coons, Congresswoman Sarah McBride, and I hosted our annual Service Academy Night where our teams answered questions from students and family members interested in the nomination process. If you weren’t able to attend, you can find more information on my website here.
ABOVE: Our delegation’s Service Academy Night is always a great opportunity for students and families to learn more about our nation’s service academies.
Recognizing Building Trades Apprentices
I also had the chance to join the Delaware Building & Construction Trades Council’s 2025 Apprenticeship Banquet – an event dedicated to celebrating hard work, dedication, and achievement. It was great to recognize the accomplishments of this year’s class of apprentices in the industry. Apprenticeships do a great job of marrying theory and hands-on experience. As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor, this event is one I look forward to. Congratulations, apprentices!
ABOVE: As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor, I look forward to the Delaware Building & Construction Trades Council’s annual Apprenticeship Banquet.
Calling Young Leaders: Fall Internship Applications are Open!
Are you someone who wants to make an impact on people's lives? Are you interested in getting an up-close look at how the federal government works? Consider applying for an internship with my office this Fall. We’ll have internships available in Delaware and D.C. that cover the legislative and communications portfolios.
Click here for more information and to see how you can apply today!
Republicans in Congress say they want to “Make America Healthy Again.” But the truth is, their budget would put the health of millions of Americans at risk, especially mothers and infants. This week, I’m sharing what Taryn from Wilmington told me.
Taryn is a neonatal nurse practitioner who takes care of birthing people and their babies every day. She knows as well as anyone that we are in a maternal and infant health crisis.
Medicaid covers 41% of all births nationwide, affecting nearly 1.5 million women and babies. As Taryn told me, “Stripping away Medicaid coverage means children won't have access to preventative care and pregnant people won't have access to prenatal and maternal healthcare. The downstream effect will be financial hardship for Americans and increasing death and comorbidity rates.”
We need more support, not less, for families. I’ll keep fighting to protect Medicaid for the sake of mothers and infants in Delaware and beyond.
Do you have a story to share? I want to hear from you! Please click here to share your story.
Please note that your stories may be used on the Senate floor, on social media, or with the press.
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 www.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 three very important Delaware servicemembers. Colonel Jamila L. Musa has officially taken over command of Dover’s 436th Airlift Wing, as Colonel William C. McDonald prepares to retire after two years as commander. Chief Master Sergeant Elijah Edwards will join Col. Musa in command. I am grateful for their leadership and thank Col. McDonald for his service at Dover Air Force Base.
ABOVE: In a change of command ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Bolton, 18th Air Force commander, presented the 436th Airlift Wing guidon to Col. Jamil Musa, who is now the wing’s 38th commander. (Photo: U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ROLAND BALIK)
Yours in service,
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester
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