U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) is raising alarms about the growing cost of living in Delaware, warning that a Republican-led government shutdown could make an already difficult situation worse for working families.
Blunt Rochester, who has made affordability a central focus of her work in the Senate, is urging swift action to reopen the government and protect health care access for millions of Americans. She has joined her Democratic colleagues in supporting legislation that would end the shutdown, restore coverage lost under the Republican tax law passed earlier this year, and prevent health insurance premiums from doubling ahead of the open enrollment season.
“President Trump promised to lower costs on Day One, but more than 250 days into his administration, Delawareans are still feeling the pain,” Blunt Rochester said. “Energy costs are up, food costs are up, housing costs are up—and health care costs will go up too if Congress doesn’t act. It’s time for my Republican colleagues to get serious, end this shutdown, and lower the cost of living.”
To better capture the human impact of these challenges, Blunt Rochester has launched a “Share Your Story” portal on her website, where constituents can describe how rising costs are affecting them. The responses paint a sobering picture.
Amy, a healthcare provider from Newark, warned that funding cuts “will literally cause facilities to shut down,” particularly nursing homes and rural hospitals. Kathryn from Wilmington said she relies on both Medicare and supplemental insurance to make ends meet: “We should care for fellow citizens, regardless of their wealth… If we do not, we aren’t worth much.”
Caritas from Wilmington described neighbors sharing food out of necessity, while Richard from Bridgeville said Medicaid support has kept his son in recovery from opioid addiction: “Without it, I can’t say he will [recover].”
Virginia, a public servant in Dover, echoed many Delawareans’ frustration: “All working-class families can no longer afford to live comfortably… something needs to change.”
Blunt Rochester vowed to continue fighting in Washington for policies that “put people over politics” and deliver real relief to Delaware families.
