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Dear Friend,
Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt. I want to start off by wishing all the fathers and father figures in Delaware a very happy Father’s Day. Today, I am thinking of my father and hero, Ted Blunt.
This Week in Washington
This week’s news cycle has been unrelenting. Here’s what you need to know.
Senator Alex Padilla was physically removed from a press conference, forced to the ground, and physically restrained earlier this week. Why? Because he tried to question Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on behalf of his constituents. It was a shocking abuse of force by the Trump administration.
The moment to stand up and speak out is now. I took to the Senate floor to stand up against this violence and urged my colleagues to condemn this behavior. You can watch my remarks here.
Concerning News About the Future of Vaccines in our Country
This week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. removed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) without cause or warning. This expert panel of doctors, pediatricians, scientists, and parents is tasked with keeping our communities safe by making recommendations on vaccine use. I’ve been tracking Secretary Kennedy’s interference with ACIP closely as a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for months – it’s clear this move will cause confusion and put lives at risk.
I plan to do everything in my power to investigate and reverse this harmful decision. Read my full statement on this here and watch my video breaking it down here.
Finding Nemo’s Future
I had the chance to lead my first hearing as the ranking member of the Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries. The hearing focused on the effects of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing on the United States. This is a serious issue for coastal communities, including the Mid-Atlantic region where the Blue Crab is a boon for our economy. Regulating the fishing industry also ensures the seafood Americans eat every day is correctly labeled and caught legally – ultimately protecting the health of consumers and the workforces that rely on fishing to make a living. Read more about this hearing here.
ABOVE: Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is an environmental, economic, national security, and moral issue that must be taken seriously.
Saluting our Next Generation of Leaders
At an event at the Capitol, I congratulated the Delaware students who received appointments to our nation’s service academies. Nominating the best and brightest Delawareans to these academies is a true honor, and I wish this year’s class good luck as they begin their service to our nation.
ABOVE: Alongside my partners in our federal delegation and former Senator Tom Carper, it was a pleasure to spend time with Delaware students who will be attending our nation’s service academies.
The Big Bad Bill Would Make Our Energy Crisis Worse
I’ve heard from countless Delawareans about their rising energy costs. At a moment when costs are already too high for families, Congress should be doing everything we can to bring them down. This week, I joined my Democratic colleagues outside the Capitol to expose how Republicans’ Big Bad budget will kill jobs, increase energy costs, and worsen the climate crisis. That’s why I’m fighting to kill this bill.
ABOVE: I was proud to stand with my colleagues and say that we cannot let Republicans make the energy crisis worse.
Delawareans in D.C.
As always, welcoming Delawareans to my office in Washington is a highlight of my job. This week, I met with representatives from the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Delaware Music Educators Association, and Nemours Children’s Health. These meetings give me an important opportunity to hear Delawareans’ top priorities and to share a little bit about the work I’m doing to protect their access to the grants, rights, and services our communities rely on.
ABOVE: I was glad to welcome Delawareans from the Alzheimer’s Association to my office here in Washington.
ABOVE: Thank you to the representatives of the Delaware Music Educators Association for all they do to enrich the education of students across our state.
This Week in Delaware
A Beacon of Hope for Young People in Need
On Monday, I joined Senator Chris Coons, Congresswoman Sarah McBride, Governor Matt Meyer, a bipartisan group of state legislators, and stakeholders for the grand opening of Life Lines South. The brainchild of West End Neighborhood House, Life Lines South is Delaware’s only supportive housing program in Sussex County for youth ages 18–23 who are homeless or exiting the foster care system.
I’m grateful to all involved – including the Eby family – for the work they did to transform this property into a wonderful facility that will address a major regional need.
ABOVE: Funded in part by a federal investment I was proud to champion, Life Lines South will be a beacon of hope for young people in need.
Forging the Path Forward for Early Childhood Education
We also cut the ribbon this week on the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) and Early Childhood Lab School at Delaware State University. This center will help our state forge the path ahead for early childhood education and be a model for other states across the nation. Together, we celebrated a true partnership that put American Rescue Plan dollars to work supporting a state-wide priority.
ABOVE: Built with federal dollars, the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) and Early Childhood Lab School are major down payments on our future.
Thank You for a Successful Passport & Global Entry Event
Last weekend, my constituent services team and I were proud to serve more than 50 Delawareans at our Passport & Global Entry Event at the Route 9 Library & Innovation Center. To everyone who had the chance to take steps toward getting a passport or Global Entry at our event, safe travels.
Calling Young Leaders: Fall Internship Applications are Open!
Are you a Delaware college student or recent graduate 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. Applications are due on Friday, June 27th.
Click here for more information and to see how you can apply today!
Last week, I wrote to you about Republicans’ attacks on Food Assistance Programs and asked you to share how these cuts would affect you. I am grateful to everyone who shared their stories.
One story I received was from Susan in Townsend. Susan said she began to understand food insecurity as a coordinator for a free dining program at her church. She told me, “It was then that I realized that this program was not just for the homeless. Most of the people had places to live. Many also had full-time jobs but simply could not make ends meet for the month.” Between SNAP benefits, food banks, and her church’s services, members of Susan’s community have been able to get by. But Susan wrote, “Our small food pantry and our small but active church will be challenged by incoming needs that we may not be able to meet should the SNAP program be slashed.”
Food Assistance Programs are a matter of life and death for the people who rely on them – it is unconscionable that Republicans in Congress want to strip these programs to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. Keep sharing your stories with me, and I’ll keep fighting to defend critical food assistance programs in Washington.
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 the fifth graders of Lorewood Grove Elementary School in Middletown who, over the last year, worked together to modify drivable toy cars for children with disabilities. Each class was paired with one child with a unique set of needs for their car. The University of Delaware’s Assistive Medical Technologies Club stepped in to help fundraise and make the modifications, and the year culminated in a ceremony where the cars were presented to the kids. Thank you to everyone involved – you make Delaware proud!
ABOVE: Finn Pfeifer, 3, tests out his new adaptive Power Wheels car as Amanda Giebels, a member of the University of Delaware’s Assistive Medical Technologies club, looks on. (Photo: Damian Giletto/Delaware News Journal)
Yours in service,
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester
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