Sens. Carper, Coons Congratulate Congresswoman Rochester on Swearing-In

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) congratulated Lisa Blunt Rochester on her swearing-in as Delaware’s lone member of Congress today in the U.S. Capitol. Congresswoman Rochester made history as the first woman and first African American representing Delaware in Congress.

“I first met Lisa at a town hall meeting many years ago in Delaware,” said Sen. Carper. “Not too long after, she joined my congressional office as an intern and then began quickly rising through the ranks. She was a constituent caseworker focused on helping people experiencing hardships with their social security benefits, disability insurance claims, IRS disputes and housing needs. Later, when I served as Delaware’s governor, she was a pivotal part of my administration, taking the lead on initiatives that focused on strengthening families, and later becoming Delaware’s Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services and then Secretary of the Department of Labor and State Personnel Director.  

“Lisa exhibits all of the qualities of a good leader. She is humble, not haughty. She does the right thing, not the expedient thing. She has been and will continue to be a positive force for Delaware. These qualities will guide her well as she looks to fill the shoes of John Carney, who is well respected in the House of Representatives. She understands family values and I know her mother, Alice, father, Ted, sisters, Thea and Marla, and her children, Alyssa and Alex, are so proud of her today. Over the years, Lisa has called me a mentor, but the truth is, we’ve mentored each other. I look forward to working with Lisa and Chris as we enter this new Congress and work on behalf of all Delawareans. ”

“I am very excited to begin serving the people of Delaware and our country alongside Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester,” said Sen. Coons. “Lisa has served in two different governors’ cabinets, worked in both the private and the public sectors, and has an undeniable passion and natural ability to bring people together.  She is well-prepared to represent our state and will be a tremendous advocate in Washington for the people of Delaware.”