Lisa Blunt Rochester

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. President, I would hope I would be standing here today talking about lowering costs for Americans or tackling the housing crisis. Or, as the former secretary of labor in Delaware, I thought I would be standing here talking about jobs and the economy. Unfortunately, the actions over the last 2 weeks have cast a long shadow over our work and our discourse in this body, and instead of speaking about lowering the cost of goods or the housing crisis or jobs, I stand before you armed with the voices of Delawareans. Instead, today, I am speaking about the actions of the Trump administration that are sowing fear, confusion, and chaos in homes and workplaces across America and around the world. But know this: I stand before you filled with a spirit of love for my constituents and my great State and also for my country. Like many of my colleagues here today, my goal is to highlight how these things that are occurring are impacting my State but also to instill some hope. In the tradition of my faith, there is sort of like a prescription. There are some things that you should not forget. The first is that trouble don't last always. The second is it won't last always if we walk together and don't get weary. And then the third is that joy comes in the morning. So I am speaking to you, America, as we face these precarious times, at a moment when instead of having a President to bring us all together, many feel divided. But if we hold on together, the morning will come. I was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and began serving in 2017. It was after finding and marrying and then losing the love of my life to blood clots. My husband Charles went on a business trip, played a game of basketball, ruptured his Achilles tendon, and blood clots went to his heart and lungs. And at the age of 52, this vegetarian who worked out every day left my life. I remember that pain, that heartache, like it was yesterday. I understood viscerally what the word ``heartbreak'' really means. But almost a year after Charles's passing--it was the fall of 2015--I was sort of just on autopilot in the grocery store, and I saw a dad with three kids in front of me put back grapes because they were $9. It snapped me out of my own pain, and it made me realize how blessed I am--I am going to be OK--but a lot of other people were hurting, a lot of other people were struggling. And I decided at that time, having never run for anything in my life, to run for the House of Representatives. And I won. Today, I stand before you, and I see that dad and those kids, and I think about all that we have been through over the past couple of weeks and ask: Have these actions made his or his children's lives better, more prosperous, safer, or at peace? I would venture to say no. Let's recap just a small portion of the past few weeks in the Trump administration 2.0. Last week, the administration sent a memo--here is the memo--from the Office of Management and Budget directing critical Agencies to freeze Federal tax dollars, the taxpayers' dollars, from being spent on critical services and programs approved by Congress. This blatantly unconstitutional directive had and has the potential to cause massive harm to Delawareans and has sown nothing but confusion and chaos for all Americans. Police and fire departments up and down the State of Delaware could go unfunded. Military families stationed at Dover Air Force Base could lose access to critical programs. Construction projects with shovels in the ground could go unfinished as workers are laid off. Community health centers may be unable to provide critical primary care. As a matter of fact, just yesterday, as I gave a speech before the National Association of Community Health Centers, the health centers in the State of Florida were closed. Opioid overdoses could rise as prevention programs end. Children of working families could go hungry when free lunch programs stop. These are not partisan programs. In fact, many of these are popular bipartisan initiatives. They are exactly what the vast majority of Americans want our government to be funding. But with the stroke of a pen, President Trump tried to defund programs already signed into law, making Delaware and every other State across the country less safe, less healthy, and less stable. And to make matters worse, when the pressure mounted from the people, Members of this Chamber, the attorneys general around the country who fought in the courts, Federal judges stepped in and halted the freeze, and then the administration doubled down on their decision. Here is what the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, posted on X: This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo. Why? To end any confusion created by the court's injunction. The President's EOs on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented. Let me be clear. If the President wants to have his Federal budget reflected in his priorities, he is able to. He should submit a budget proposal to Congress like every other President has done. Beyond this unlawful budget freeze, this administration and an unelected and unchecked billionaire have threatened and, in some cases, delivered on massive civil servant layoffs and unconstitutional firings. Because of this, almost 1,500 calls alone have come into my office about ``Elon Musk taking over the government.'' In Delaware, there are thousands of civil servants who have dedicated their lives to public service, people who care deeply about ensuring we have meals for seniors, services for our veterans, and educational opportunities for our children. This past year's budget was debated, negotiated, and agreed upon on a bipartisan basis. I remember it clearly, as negotiations lasted right up until almost Christmas Day. While I was still a Member of the House, we worked to avoid a harmful government shutdown. That brings us to this moment. Tonight, this Chamber will vote on the leading architect of Project 2025. The actions we are seeing are part of the blueprint. The funds are critical taxpayer dollars used to conduct vital services that our communities rely on. Yet this administration is disregarding the law and the Constitution. Why? Some say to give tax breaks not to all, but to billionaires--or, as I call it, reverse Robin Hood. From USAID to the Department of Labor to Treasury to the thought of abolishing the Department of Education, everyone will be impacted. Let's take a look at what could be on the chopping block if those things that we already approved don't go into effect. Public safety: Grants for law enforcement and homeland security activities will cease. Disaster relief: As many communities are struggling after severe natural disasters, most recently in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and California. Infrastructure projects: Our roads, our bridges, our ports, and more. Public transit could be halted, including projects already under construction. Combating fentanyl: The crisis that we see right now in our communities of substance use disorders, this could be impacted. Biomedical research: There will be immediate pauses on all funding for critical health research, including research on such important diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. Head Start and childcare could be affected: Funding for Head Start Programs that provide comprehensive early childhood education for more than 800,000 kids and their families could be cut off. Teachers and staff would not get paid, and programs may not be able to stay open, even in our K-12 systems. The programs for children with disabilities, the children who have needs, will be impacted. And as the former secretary of labor in Delaware, I can tell you our higher ed and our job training programs could be affected, from student loans to Pell grants. Health services: Federal funding for community health centers that provide healthcare for over 30 million Americans will be immediately frozen, creating chaos for patients trying to get their prescriptions, a regular checkup, and more. These health centers that are trusted by so many are concerned and fearful that they might not be able to provide the care that they know their patients need and deserve. Small businesses: The Small Business Administration would have to halt all of their services to small businesses that might be in ravaged communities like North Carolina, Texas, and Florida. Our veterans, who have served us so mightily: Federal grants to help veterans in rural areas access healthcare and grants to help veterans get other critical services, including suicide prevention resources, transition assistance, and housing for homeless veterans could be cut off. Needless to say, this freeze would cause devastation in our communities. Last week, my colleagues in Delaware, as part of our congressional delegation--Senator Chris Coons and Congresswoman Sarah McBride joined with myself; our Governor; our mayor; our attorney general, Kathy Jennings; our Governor, Matt Meyer; and over 250 other statewide officials and leaders to talk about what we were hearing from Delawareans. These folks in State and local government, education, the nonprofit sector and more were concerned about this directive, and we assured them that we are working to address their concerns together. Again, I just want to say that again. Overnight, 250 organizations and partners got on a Zoom to talk about the impact and what we can do together. We had spoken to our attorney general, Kathy Jennings, about her prompt legal action against this unconstitutional directive and are grateful for her partnership, as well as all of the attorneys general across the country who are fighting back in the courts. And the phones in our offices have been ringing off the hook. We are hearing from Delawareans that are nervous about how these things will impact their everyday lives. I would like to share just a portion of what my team and I have heard. First, from our Attorney General Kathy Jennings. She provided a statement: For Delawareans, federal funds are not just money on a balance sheet. They are public safety. They are health care, housing, and heating. They are preschool and infrastructure. They are the medical research that gives our loved ones a glimmer of hope when they get sick and conventional treatment fails. This is not a game. These are promises that the United States made to Americans. Breaking those promises is stunningly indifferent to millions of people's lives, including millions across the country who voted for President Trump. The impact in Delaware has not just been seen as hypothetical. On Tuesday, February 4, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control received an e-mail [from] the U.S. Department of Energy . . . requesting receipt of its earlier directive to cease federal funding. So eight days after issuing the OMB memo, six days after trying to walk it back, and four days after being told by a judge to cease and desist, the Trump administration is still creating confusion and uncertainty regarding our ability to draw on obligated federal funds. That's not all. As of yesterday, as of February 5, the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services still could not access grant funds to protect children from lead paint poisoning. Let me repeat that: one week after the administration supposedly rescinded its OMB memo, and four days after a federal judge told them to cease and desist, the Trump Administration was still withholding funds that keep five-year-olds safe from lead paint. Not Democrats, not Republicans--five-year-olds. This kind of gamesmanship is no way to run a government. It is immoral. It is illegal. And it is going to hurt people. The second is a letter from our Governor Matt Meyer: Honorable Members of the United States Senate, I write to you today not as a blue or red state governor but as a public servant. I am deeply concerned for the well- being of the people of Delaware and our nation. President Trump's recent executive order freezing federal funding has the potential to place an unprecedented strain on our communities, our institutions, and our citizens, who rely on these critical resources for their daily lives. This funding freeze has already reverberated throughout our state, creating chaos at the thought of jeopardizing essential programs that serve our most vulnerable populations. Federal grants supporting healthcare, education, infrastructure, and public safety are at stake--potentially leaving our agencies scrambling to provide the services our people need and deserve. This topic is not a matter of political ideology, but of governance, responsibility, and duty to the American people. The federal funds in question are not mere numbers on a budget sheet; they represent meals for children, medical care for seniors, and security for families. A prolonged freeze on these resources will only exacerbate economic instability, stifle job growth, and erode our people's trust in their government. I am going to say that one again: A prolonged freeze on these resources will only exacerbate economic instability, stifle job growth, and erode our people's trust in their government.'' I urge this Senate to act swiftly and decisively to mitigate the potentially devastating impact of this funding freeze. Whether through [legislation], bipartisan negotiations, or direct engagement with the administration, we must ensure that our states have the resources to serve the people effectively. Delaware cannot afford to wait. The American people cannot afford to wait. I implore you to put aside political differences and work together in the best interest of the citizens who have entrusted us with their futures. The time to act is now. The third is from Dr. Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University, our HBCU, a premier HBCU in the country. And I will read some excerpts from his statement: On the federal grant pause, the short-term risk is upwards of $10 million [for DSU], which would significantly impact our ability to operate through the end of [this] fiscal year. Delays impact cash flow. In the long term, though, our $30 million in federal grant funding, including almost the whole of our research portfolio, would have devastating impacts on undergraduate research experience and faculty scholarship, not to mention the related contributions to the local community. Finally, financial aid is a big mystery and could be over $75 million if not dealt with effectively. We have drawn down most of our financial aid for the year. We do have tranches that can be included before June 30. But Dr. Allen describes the impact on these pauses and the grants and the loans, and if this continues, what it would mean. It would be significant. For context, about 71 percent of [Delaware State University's] students are Pell eligible. This could have impacts not only for those students in this present moment, but as Dr. Allen said, even for the surrounding community to the school. Whether they have the students there who can then go on to patronize different restaurants and shops and be a part of society; the professors who are there, whether they will have the dollars to do the research that is necessary. This will have profound impacts on all of us. I also want to share a statement and information from our--it is called the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement. We affectionately, in Delaware, call it DANA, and DANA is headed up by Sheila Bravo, the president, and she sent a few-page letter with some of the impacts and some of the concerns that the nonprofits in our State have. Delaware nonprofits have shared the following impacts to their organizations and the people they serve should their federal funding be reduced or eliminated. And I just want to say, as a person who headed up a nonprofit in the State of Delaware--I was CEO of the Urban League--as a nonprofit, you depend on some stability, just like the for-profits, just like a big business. You need stability. You need to know what to expect from your budget, how to hire people, and so how to even provide the services. These groups are impacted on a daily basis in the lives of Delawareans. Providing vital assistance to at-risk and vulnerable populations, including our seniors, children, new mothers, the unhoused, and those dealing with substance abuse issues. For many of these groups, federal funding is a lifeline that allows them to continue serving these residents. Any decrease or elimination in funding could be catastrophic. Should these organizations close their doors, seniors would go hungry, people facing mental health crises would not have critical assistance, at- risk children would be more vulnerable to abuse, justice- involved individuals would be far more likely to re-offend, and sexual assault survivors would be forced to deal with their trauma alone. Please note, that some of these stories below have been submitted anonymously for fear of retaliation for vocalizing their concerns. That is another big concern to folks. They are concerned that if their information--their private information--is available to folks that don't even have security background clearances or who aren't trusted, what might that mean to them, what might that mean to their organization. Anonymous: The two [Victims of Crime Act] grants covered the personnel cost to two sexual assault therapists who service victims and survivors, including teens. The [Sexual Assault Services Formula] grant [program] covers the personnel and operational costs to the Crisis Helpline and Rape crisis service that includes four staff members listed on the grant. So imagine--imagine a victim of sexual assault not having a hotline to call into. There not being someone there who is trained and understands and can provide the resources and the services. Imagine that. What they said at the end of their comments to me was ``no funding, no service.'' Another was Impact Life. They said to me: The loss of federal funds would significantly impact our ability to continue offering vital programs such as Harm Reduction, Pregnant & Parenting Women, and Building Communities of Recovery, as well as halt the building and renovation of two new recovery homes. Now, I don't know about you, but I think every single person has been touched in this country by someone who has been a victim of substance use disorders. And so the thought of these programs not being there is unconscionable. These programs are essential to the health and well-being of our community, and the loss of funding would make it incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to continue or supplement them. Nearly 60 percent of our organization's programs are at risk, which would drastically reduce our capacity to serve those in need. Last year, Impact Life served over 16,000 people in Delaware. So 16,000--that might not be a lot to some other States. That is a lot of people to the State of Delaware. That is a lot of families that will be impacted. Without these crucial federal funds, we would be unable to provide the level of support and resources that our community relies on, leaving many without access to services they need for recovery and wellbeing. The Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council: We will not be able to sustain tax representation impacting hundreds of low-income families awaiting a refund. So, again, here is an organization that actually helps individuals to get their refunds. It helps individuals to really take advantage of programs that have been in place for years to help strengthen our economy. And yet and still, this money--because when those refunds go out, that helps support that family. That family can then buy shoes for their kids. They can then pay the rent. So, again, the impact is real. This one is from Prevent Child Abuse Delaware: We face the prospect of potential layoffs of at least two personnel of our team of nine. So they have only got a team of nine, and they are dealing with preventing child abuse, and they could lose two of the nine. The prospective partnerships which are currently in development with the Department of Public Health and Department of Education in the area of infant early childhood mental health consultation would likely not move forward. These are things that we already funded and agreed to that these organizations are depending on to serve families and children. Community programs building protective factors for at-risk families would cease and more children would have increased susceptibilities for abuse and neglect as more parents and caregivers experience adversity and stress increasing their likelihood of entry. So imagine, not only are we going to cut the programs, but then we are also going to lay off or fire their parents, which would, I think, lead to more trauma and more stress and more economic hardship and also lead into the child welfare system and the criminal justice system. If we say we are about second chances, if we say we are about making sure that our country is one where bills like my Clean Slate bill-- which is bipartisan, which allows those returning citizens to have an opportunity--why would we endanger these programs? Then there is The Way Home. According to The Way Home: We service individuals coming out of prison that represent at-risk populations that are currently being targeted. With money being frozen across the board, their basic needs (housing, transportation, and food) make them extremely vulnerable to violate their probation and be placed back into prison. The Delaware Regional Dream Center, which also talks about their staffing needs; Project New Start, which also talks about 100 percent of the justice-involved individuals that they serve by their agency, it is provided by this Federal funding. And the Modern Maturity Center in Delaware: Without the funding identified above, the Modern Maturity Center will not be in a position to provide adult day care services, caregiver resource services, or senior employment opportunities. The administration of the SNAP program will have to be discontinued. This would remove the opportunity for Seniors to apply for the supplemental food assistant at the Modern Maturity Center. The largest impact on the community will come through the Nutrition Services program. Every day, the Modern Maturity Center provides meals to approximately 2,000 Seniors in Kent County [DE]. Without this funding . . . [it] could be discontinued. I could go on. The Coalition For a Safer Delaware: Delaware relies on it for suicide prevention, domestic violence intervention, community violence programs. We passed legislation in a bipartisan way to deal with safer communities. They need the money. And then the Freedom Center For Living Independent--again, they will feel the impact; our citizens with disabilities as well. The HELP Initiative is also another one. I told you how these misguided actions would impact families, workers, seniors, people with disabilities, and many others in my State. But we must meet these words with action. We must keep the pressure on because we know that, in this moment, it is all hands on deck. Delawareans know that I have a proven track record of working across the aisle. It has been my top priority in serving in the House to find bipartisan solutions and to work on behalf of Delaware and the American people. And my top priority is to continue to do that and have it front and center in the U.S. Senate. It is why, after seeking out the voices of Delawareans and asking the President's nominees the questions that we needed to ask, I am so committed to making sure that we continue this fight. Within the past few weeks, many promises have been broken, and we see the recklessness on display of these harmful things and what they will do to our communities. So I stand here today to say that I am voting no on Vought. I am voting no on Vought. And I will do everything--everything--in my power to stand up for the people of Delaware and to deliver--even when it feels dark--bright hope. I yield the floor.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address this body for my final time as the sole Representative from the great and first State of Delaware. I remember how I felt back in 1988 standing on the steps of the Capitol as an intern with our then-Congressman Tom Carper. From intern to caseworker, cabinet member, colleague, and now his successor, building on his incredible legacy fills me with great pride. I thank Senator Carper for everything he has done. I also remember how I felt as I walked into this room as Delaware's Congresswoman, humbled, honored, and hopeful because, to borrow the words of the musical ``Hamilton,'' this is ``The Room Where It Happens.'' It is where legislators have convened to debate ideas and uphold ideals. It is where we have heard legendary speeches from Presidents, world leaders, and influential past and present Members of this body. It is where Jeannette Rankin became the first woman Member of Congress, only after the House's monthlong debate on whether a woman was fit for the job. It is also where I got to serve with luminaries like John Lewis. It is also where landmark legislation was passed, from the Civil Rights Act, to the Affordable Care Act, to the bipartisan infrastructure law. This is the room where we, the people, have forged America's future. The first time the House of Representatives used this room was on December 16, 1857, 167 years ago, almost to this very day. It was also the year the Supreme Court ruled that Black Americans were not citizens under the law. I stand here 167 years later, the first woman and Black person elected to Congress from Delaware, on the shoulders of our ancestors, delivering my final speech before being sworn in as a United States Senator. My journey represents the promise and potential of America. When I decided to run for Congress, it was after the unexpected death of my husband, my love, Charles Rochester. His death shook me to the core, but then I ran into a father in front of me in the grocery store, who had to put back grapes because they were $9. In that moment, I realized I was still alive, and I had more to give. I ran for office, having never run for anything in my life, and our small but mighty State made history in 2016 and sent me here, to the room where it happens, to deliver for Delaware. It is their voices, their stories, and their concerns that have informed my work each and every day, from advocating for a strong farm bill, to protecting our coastal communities, to supporting the Dover Air Force Base and the Port of Wilmington, to bringing clean drinking water to communities like Ellendale, and to fighting for small businesses hit hard by a pandemic and broken supply chains. I worked across the aisle. We passed bipartisan legislation to help support families, strengthen our communities, lower costs, and protect our national security. However, not every day in this room has been filled with progress. People almost always ask me what my worst day as a Member of Congress was. Indelibly etched in my mind is that spot in the gallery where I was trapped on January 6, a day when insurrectionists attacked this temple of democracy, and I prayed for love over hate and hope over fear. As terrible as that day was, it was also one of my proudest moments because we came back into this Chamber, and we fulfilled our constitutional duty and carried out the will of the people. At that moment, I recommitted to this work, to our democracy, and a hope for a brighter future. Let me be clear: The race to liberty and justice is not over. In running it, we must remember the saying: ``The race is not given to the swift, nor to the strong, but to the one that endures.'' If we are to build a democracy, a planet, and a future that endures, it will take each and every one of us doing our part. In closing, to all of my colleagues and friends, to the incredible staff in this room and in the Cloakroom and in the building, thank you so much for your friendship and support. To my dedicated staff members who have been on this journey with me every step of the way, I could not have done it without you. To my family, thank you for your unyielding love and support through it all. To my late father, Ted Blunt, thank you for showing me the true meaning of service. Dad once said: You become what you see unless you see what you want to become. Dad, in you, I still see what I want to become. Finally, to the countless Delawareans who have entrusted me with the responsibility of this office and the next, I am honored, grateful, and ready to serve. In the words of Hamilton: ``There's a million things I haven't done, but just you wait.''

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, on September 25, 2024, I missed the following vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 449.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from votes on Monday, July 22, 2024 due to a personal tragedy. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 365 and YEA on Roll Call No. 358.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the following roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 336 and YEA on Roll Call No. 337.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I am excited that this week, the House is expected to take action on the bipartisan Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act. Supply chains are an issue that touches every American, whether they know it or not. From shortages of PPE and baby formula to lumber and glass for housing to semiconductor chips that power our cars, weakened supply chains can delay critical goods that we rely on. That is why this bill is so important. It is an issue that I have been working on since the pandemic, and Dr. Larry Bucshon and I worked tirelessly to introduce this bill after many weeks of negotiations. This legislation creates a whole-of-government approach to mapping, monitoring, and proactively strengthening our supply chains and helping us identify shocks before they occur. It enjoys the support of over 150 organizations and was passed out of committee unanimously. Making our supply chains more resilient will help us create good-paying jobs, lower costs for consumers, grow our economy, and strengthen our national security. I ask our colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation, and I look forward to President Biden signing it.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, March is National Blood Clot Awareness Month. One American every 6 minutes dies from a blood clot, which is why yesterday I unveiled a virtual toolkit to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire advocacy because blood clots don't discriminate. As a Member of Congress and a member of the Health Subcommittee, this issue is a professional one for me and the 100,000 Americans who die, but, as Lisa, this is personal. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, I lost my husband Charles Rochester to blood clots. His death shook me to the core and inspired me to act. That is why I introduced the bipartisan Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act. Recently, my family was, again, impacted by blood clots. My dad was diagnosed with cancer. The second leading cause of death for people with cancer is blood clots. Dad contracted a blood clot in his leg and his arm, but because I knew the signs, we were able as a family to have 4 more months with him. He passed away in January. Mr. Speaker, today for our loved ones and our constituents, let's raise awareness, and let's advocate. Let's act to stop the clot, spread the word, and save lives.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 793, a bill originally introduced by Representative Bill Johnson of Ohio, to strengthen the American workforce, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes due to a personal matter. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 11, H. Res. 969; YEA on Roll Call No. 12, H.R. 5862; NAY on Roll Call No. 13, H. Res. 957; YEA on Roll Call No. 14, S. 3250; YEA on Roll Call No. 15, H.R. 2872; YEA on Roll Call No. 16, H.R. 6918; NAY on Roll Call No. 17, H.R. 6918; YEA on Roll Call No. 18, H.R. 6914; and NAY on Roll Call No. 19, H.R. 6914.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I missed these votes due to a personal matter. Had I been present, I would have voted PRES on Roll Call No. 1-Quorum; NAY on Roll Call No. 2-H. Res. 947; NAY on Roll Call No. 3-H. Res. 947; NAY on Roll Call No. 4-H. Res. 947; NAY on Roll Call No. 5-H. Res. 937; YEA on Roll Call No. 6-H.R. 788; NAY on Roll Call No. 7-H.R. 788; NAY on Roll Call No. 8-S.J. Res. 38; YEA on Roll Call No. 9-H.R. 839; and NAY on Roll Call No. 10-H.J. Res. 98.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, amendment No. 36. This amendment highlights the importance of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing, otherwise known as the PRO Housing grant program and land-use reform policies, which were shortsightedly omitted entirely from this partisan bill that we are reconsidering tonight, H.R. 4820. This grant program, funded for the first time in fiscal year 2023, is based on broadly supported bipartisan bills, including my Housing Supply and Affordability Act and the Yes in My Backyard Act. The program incentivizes reform of local land-use policies that hinder the expansion of an affordable housing supply. Our Nation is facing an affordable housing crisis. We have a shortage of as many as 7 million affordable homes. This drastic underproduction hurts American families. It hurts communities, businesses, and costs the economy about $2 trillion per year in lower productivity and wages. The lack of affordable housing also increases the strain on the labor market with about 9.6 million job openings in the U.S. From food service to cybersecurity, employers in nearly every industry are struggling to find and retain workers. The bottom line is to take a job, you need to be able to afford to live near that job. I hear about this problem in almost every meeting that I attend up and down my State. It is a problem that impacts people in Delaware, from our beaches to the cities to the rural communities, and I know it is impacting Americans across this country. I urge my colleagues to think about the human impact of the lack of affordable housing; extreme stress, homelessness, increased workforce shortages, and poorer health outcomes. It is clear that housing is foundational to our well-being. Strict land-use policies create artificial restrictions that drive up costs and delay production. In many cases, they are horrific vestiges from the past, where discriminatory redlining broke up communities and prevented all Americans from having access to the American Dream. Unfortunately, the bill that we are voting on today will squander another opportunity to right those wrongs of the past. We know the bill in its current form has no chance of becoming law. The lack of meaningful housing reform and support, like the PRO Housing program and land reform policies, are examples of the many fatal flaws with this bill. The adoption of my amendment will at least signal to the Senate and our appropriations leaders that we need to include the PRO Housing program and land use policy reforms in a final appropriations bill. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer), a member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley), the distinguished ranking member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Chair, today I rise in support of my amendment to H.R 4821, Amendment No. 34. This amendment highlights the pressing need to address the affordable drinking water crisis afflicting over a million American women, children, and families. Water is a foundational building block for healthy and thriving lives, yet far too many people struggle to afford this basic and essential need. Providing robust funding for the Environmental Programs and Management account will enable the establishment of the much-needed federal low-income water program pilot authorized in section 50108 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and bring us closer to affordable clean water for every American. For decades, there have been federal assistance programs to help low- income individuals afford essentials such as housing, food, and home energy bills. But no such equivalent program exists for access to water. State-level low-income water assistance has therefore become a critical lifeline for vulnerable families struggling to pay bills and maintain access to water services, yet the lack of federal support hamstrings state efforts to assist all those with limited access to clean drinking water. To address this glaring programmatic gap, IIJA authorized the creation of a rural and low-income water assistance pilot program upon completion of an accompanying needs assessment at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To date, this needs assessment has not been completed. This needs assessment is critical to the establishment of the water assistance program because it will give the EPA and Congress the insight they need to better understand this important issue and take steps towards the creation of a nationwide, permanent low-income assistance program. Water bills have become increasingly expensive, placing greater burdens on families that already struggle to afford their water bills. A 2019 survey found that U.S. households in the bottom fifth of the economy spent 12.4 percent of their disposable income on water and sewer services. In recent years, this statistic has increased steadily. No one should have to decide between paying their water bill or buying groceries to feed their family. Historic investments were made in IIJA and it is the duty of Congress and our federal government to ensure these dollars are reaching the people and households it was intended to help. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Administration to help our communities access critical support systems.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the leader, for organizing this Special Order hour and especially for his steadfast leadership of the Regional Leadership Council. What I love about Steny is that his whole focus on this is about implementation, but it is also about informing people about all the things that have been done to support the American people. I thank Mr. Hoyer and Leader Hakeem Jeffries for creating and organizing our group, and I am honored to represent my colleagues of Region 9, which includes the States of New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and my home State of Delaware. Our region, like the entire Regional Leadership Council, has been focused on the implementation of the historic legislation passed in the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris when Democrats put people over politics and delivered transformational change. Leaders like Representative Jennifer McClellan in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District have delivered results for her constituents, funding to reconnect Richmond's historic Jackson Ward neighborhood that was split in half during the construction of the interstate highway system. This funding was delivered through the bipartisan infrastructure law and is reconnecting communities. Chairman Bobby Scott was able to secure over $400 million for the city of Norfolk in Virginia's Third Congressional District to help create more climate-resilient infrastructure in the face of increased flooding. Representatives Kweisi Mfume, John Sarbanes, and Dutch Ruppersberger also celebrated the launch of a new workforce hub in Baltimore that came as a direct result of the Chips and Science Act. The hub will help train workers to step into good-paying jobs and build the region's skilled workforce all while catalyzing investments in clean energy. These stories are just some of the stories all around Region 9, including in Delaware. After decades of effort, with families waiting and struggling when nobody believed them, our veterans in this country started a movement for better healthcare. We, under Democratic leadership, not only believed them but fought for them and were able to turn that into action with the passage of the PACT Act. Before you here is the result of a resource fair that we did in Delaware. My office did a constituent resource fair where we had hundreds of Delawareans come out to learn about resources from dozens of Federal, State, and nonprofit agencies. On the spot, 30 veterans were able to sign up and be screened for the PACT Act. Those were benefits that now those families will be able to have. I am going to tell a story that is personal and goes back over 20 years of a small town in Delaware called Ellendale, a rural community reliant on well water. Residents of Ellendale had been forced to bathe, cook with, and drink dirty water. They had fought for decades to secure a local connection to clean and reliable drinking water. Here they are holding the water in their hands. With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the historic investments made through the Inflation Reduction Act, small, rural towns like Ellendale will finally be able to open their taps and know that clean, drinkable water will be flowing from them, meaning that they will be healthier and able to thrive. I am so proud of the work that we have been able to do. Lastly, I would just say this: All of our work has expanded drinking water across this country. Drinking Water State Revolving Funds have gotten $14 billion, provided over $500 million directly to small and disadvantaged communities and over $500 million to remediate lead contamination. Included was a provision that I authored for the first- of-its-kind, low-income water bill assistance program. I will end with this: We came out of a pandemic as a country. Don't forget where we came from. The 117th Congress, with President Joe Biden, passed historic legislation that will provide for the American people clean drinking water, clean air, access to the internet, cheaper healthcare, newer roads and bridges, and more jobs. The bottom line is, we put politics to the side, and we supported the people. We didn't just do it with words. We did it with action. We delivered for Delaware, and we delivered for the American people.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company. Just over 100 years ago, a group of young men saw a need in their community, decided to act, and established this company. Now, a century later, it has grown into what it is today--a critical part of the Selbyville community with a legacy of exceptional service. In addition to this occasion being a chance for fellowship and comradery between those in uniform, it is also an opportunity for the rest of us, whom the members of the Company serve, to pause and express our gratitude for their selfless and dangerous work. To these firefighters: we in Delaware know the risk each of them takes when they put on their uniforms and go to work each day. And to take on these risks is as remarkable as it is inspiring. Our state would not enjoy the same peace of mind without people like them answering the call and volunteering their time to protect our communities. In Delaware, we are incredibly proud to have so many wonderful volunteer firefighters up and down our state. I am proud to be their Congresswoman, and especially as a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I am proud to be their champion in the House of Representatives. Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my congratulations to everyone at the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company for this historic accomplishment and thank them for their selfless service. Here's to the next hundred years.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company. Just over 100 years ago, a group of young men saw a need in their community, decided to act, and established this company. Now, a century later, it has grown into what it is today--a critical part of the Selbyville community with a legacy of exceptional service. In addition to this occasion being a chance for fellowship and comradery between those in uniform, it is also an opportunity for the rest of us, whom the members of the Company serve, to pause and express our gratitude for their selfless and dangerous work. We in Delaware know the risk each of these firefighters takes when they put on their uniforms and go to work each day. And to take on these risks is as remarkable as it is inspiring. Our state would not enjoy the same peace of mind without people like them answering the call and volunteering their time to protect our communities. In Delaware, we are incredibly proud to have so many wonderful volunteer firefighters up and down our state. I am proud to be their Congresswoman, and especially as a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I am proud to be their champion in the House of Representatives. Again, to everyone at the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company, congratulations on this historic accomplishment and I thank them for their selfless service. Here's to the next hundred years.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address my vote for H. Res. 311. This resolution will encourage the State of Israel to continue its diplomatic efforts within the Middle East and North African (MENA) region and beyond. In recent years, Israel has succeeded in establishing diplomatic relations with several nations around it. I continue to be supportive of the efforts by the State of Israel to work toward normalization of relations with its neighbors and improve the stability of the region. The resolution also describes several aspects of U.S.-Israel policy, which I continue to support, including the 10- year Memorandum of Understanding and maintenance of our bilateral relationship. It is for these reasons that I voted in favor of this resolution. However, I am disappointed that the resolution did not include an explicit affirmation of a two-state solution nor the eventual goal of peace with the Palestinians. A similar bipartisan resolution marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel included these affirmations. These statements are long-standing aspects of U.S. policy, including the Biden Administration's current policy, and are core principles for a successful peace process. I will continue to support a two-state solution and the peace process needed to achieve that goal.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Chair, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for yielding me time. Madam Chair, today, I rise to talk about a public health emergency impacting every corner of our Nation: fentanyl. As Congress debates the best approach to combating synthetic opioids, what we can all agree on is that every single one of us is impacted. I urge my colleagues to keep our focus on comprehensive and sustainable solutions. In 2021, in my small State of Delaware, we lost over 500 family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors to overdoses. Of the more than 500 Delawareans lost to overdose, 80 percent involved fentanyl. Those numbers, unfortunately, are poised to get worse. As the former deputy secretary of health and social services in Delaware, my career has made me look at these challenges through a lens of public health. That is why I was proud to join my colleagues Representative Annie Kuster and Don Bacon in introducing the STOP Fentanyl Overdoses Act. Our bipartisan bill takes a comprehensive public health approach to reducing fentanyl overdoses by expanding testing, improving data collection and analysis, and expanding treatment for opioid use disorder. Our approach is supported by a broad and diverse coalition, including the Drug Policy Alliance, American Psychological Association Services, and Partnership to End Addiction. As we continue to work to combat the fentanyl crisis, an issue that I know we all care deeply about, I hope we will keep a comprehensive public health approach top of mind.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life and legacy of a giant of our community--Mr. Maurice Pritchett. Mr. Pritchett, surrounded by his family, was called home to his Creator on April 21st, at the age of 80. The 80 years that Mr. Pritchett spent on Earth were a testament to an inherent optimism--an exercise in making his community, and in turn this world, a better place. Raised on the East Side of our beloved Wilmington, a young Maurice Pritchett would excel in the classroom and on the basketball court. He would go on to attend the historic Howard High School and earn Wilmington All-City Honors. His academic and athletic prowess would take him from Wilmington to Dover--earning a full scholarship and attending what was then known as Delaware State College. His career with the Hornets would earn him induction into the Delaware State Basketball Hall of Fame and the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame. And while his success on the court was evident, the true gift of his time at Delaware State University was the fostering of his true passion and what would go on to become his life's work--public education. He first taught in Cecil County, Maryland--eventually finding his way back to the school he had attended as a young boy, Bancroft Elementary. Starting as a community school coordinator, he rose to become vice principal and then principal. He served the students and families at The Bancroft School for over thirty years and in the 1994-95 school year, was honored as the National Distinguished Principal for Delaware. Mr. Pritchett also devoted a great deal of his time helping students outside of the classroom, coaching the Delaware high school All-Stars and helping prepare our young people for the next phase of their life All of those accomplishments and accolades may provide some context for the skill, intellect, and work ethic of Maurice Pritchett--but they fail to paint the full picture of who he was and what he meant to our community. We're all so grateful to his wonderful wife, Juanita, and his loving children and grandchildren for sharing Mr. Pritchett with us for so many years. An old Greek proverb reads, ``A society grows great when men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.'' Maurice Pritchett spent his life planting trees of wisdom, hope, and love in our community. We were blessed that so many of them blossomed while he was still with us--and thanks to the work in his life, his legacy will be those yet to bloom--and the shade we'll all enjoy in his name.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record a poem by Mr. William Claire, a distinguished poet, essayist, and author who made Lewes, Delaware his home. This poem speaks to the First State's captivating beauty and reminds us to treasure and protect our coastlines. It is my sincere hope that all who read Mr. Claire's poem are similarly inspired to reflect on the magnificence of the natural world. It's elemental, dear Senor Neruda, like your ode to glories of bird watching; ``sailors of the air,'' or, if near here, por ejemplo horseshoe crab-eggs at spawning time, God's manna for valiant red knots flying nonstop from the southern tip of Patagonia in your Tierra del Fuego enroute to a frigid Arctic surviving and doubling their weight at paradise here on earth . . . Ruddy turnstones nibbling now at ocean's edge; the pulse and throb of The Great Dune Overlook where we bring visitors from a land-locked midwest with a diminishing August daylight mist off the Atlantic knowing we are all stage-struck passers-by on specks of land windblown here whether we do or do not witness this Dune sand hill built by the aeolian process . . . Our treasured land safe from a decaying half-life of time and tempests, nurturing now exotic plants and animals where once lonely sentries in Ghost Towers kept watch by day & unearthly nights, targeting by triangulation German submarines prowling our shores; programmed by madmen with desperate dreams until their surrender here restored natural harmonies: say now with reverence . . . piping plovers, shifting sands, wind, water, air, sanderlings majestic now from our mini-Mt. Olympus-like view and utopian spur of land.

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. While those with developmental disabilities in Delaware and around the country should be seen and heard throughout the year, we need to take this month to learn and become more aware of the issues facing these Americans. As of last year, 186,592 Delawareans were living with a disability and, of those living with a disability, it is estimated that 1.8 percent, or 3,359 Delawareans, are living with a developmental disability. While major strides have been made in making facilities, services, and opportunities accessible, Americans with disabilities-- especially those with developmental disabilities--are still marginalized.