Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL)
WASHINGTON – This morning, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) joined Laura Coates on Sirius XM’s Politics of the United States (POTUS) radio show to highlight the one-year anniversary of her comprehensive Jobs Agenda, a package of eight bills designed to strengthen Delaware’s economy, workforce, and communities. Blunt Rochester also highlighted the importance of Black Maternal Health Week as it relates to the maternal mortality crisis in America. Below are excerpts of the interview.
ON JOBS AGENDA
“I think if there was one word that wold be sort of a connector to my career, the word would be, ‘jobs.’ I love jobs. You know, I was Secretary of Labor in the State of Delaware, as well as head of state personnel, and even CEO of the Urban League. And for me, this connection to jobs is so important.… It’s what I hear from my constituents every day.”
“While we’ve seen record-breaking economic indicators, and a rebound, under President Biden – 50-year low unemployment, the creation of 15 million new jobs, including 800,000 manufacturing jobs – … there’s more that we can still do and keep the momentum going that has been started.”
“…We wanted to, number one, on the one-year anniversary, show the momentum that we’ve made, and then number two, press to continue the movement of these bills to get them to the House Floor and signed by our president…this package includes things that range from expanding workforce opportunities and preparing our workforce…to focus[ing] on providing support for those who want to upskill to…those who are maybe new to the workforce…we have a bill called the Jobs Act that is…about providing Pell Grant eligibility for short term job training programs … this bill is bipartisan and bicameral…We’ve got bills that focus on housing, the Housing Supply and Affordability Act, that also is bipartisan and bicameral…, we’ve got Clean Slate…Clean Slate is about providing an opportunity for people to have a clean slate and a second chance…”
“…So again, the package is really to show that we’re going to continue to strengthen our economy, that the momentum is here, and that we’ve got to find ways to make sure that we get these resources, training, and housing out to the American people…Part of this is to share with people – don’t give up hope. There are things that many of us are working on, and this Jobs Agenda is comprehensive, because we know that jobs are not just about one job … it is about making sure that people have the skills that they need. And so, as we move forward, we’re going to continue to press for these bills. But we’re not going to stop there. And we’re going to continue to make sure that we have action.”
ON BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK
“… We are wrapping up Black Maternal Health Week. And, you know, I think for many people, part of this for us was to make them aware, and then also to create the charge and the action…the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Instead of us seeing our maternal mortality rates going down, we’re the only one where the rate is going up…Black women…we are three times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women. And there are so many things that contribute to that. But I think the biggest point is that 80% of these pregnancy related deaths are preventable – 80%…I introduced legislation called the Moms Matter Act, which was designed to really focus on, you know, mothers who are pregnant or – after they have the baby – to have that mental health and substance use support and have it be in a culturally competent way.”
“…My daughter in law literally had a miscarriage…it’s really even hard to talk about when you think about it because I knew to be worried and she literally could have died…fortunately, she was able to have my first grandchild last year. But for a lot of people, they don’t have the advocate. They don’t have the support. She had those things, and we need to make sure that everyone has it.”
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