Blunt Rochester to Republican Colleagues in Committee: This is Not Business as Usual

"The issues before us are important, but our number one priority in this moment should be reopening the government and restoring people's health care."

October 8, 2025

Click here to watch Blunt Rochester's remarks in committee.

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today used her time in each of her committee hearings to urge Republicans to prioritize reopening the government and restoring Americans' health care coverage.

Below are Blunt Rochester's committee remarks, as delivered.

Colleagues: Yesterday, there was a split-screen on the news-coverage of committee hearings, and a shutdown clock. It's a tale of two realities. Republicans continue to call committee hearings like "it's business as usual," while Americans are literally living in the midst of a shutdown that jeopardizes their health care, their jobs, and the services they rely on.

The issues before us are very important, but our number one priority in this moment should be reopening the government and restoring people's health care. So today, I want to use my time to remind all of us about what's at stake.

We're in a pivotal moment. Energy costs have gone up. The price of food has gone up. The rent has gone up. And millions of Americans-in Red States and Blue States alike-are on the brink of their health care costs doubling or losing it altogether!

From small business owners, ranchers, and farmers to moms and dads-at this very moment, Americans across the nation are making difficult decisions about how to make ends meet.

We can fix this. But it requires negotiations. It requires us to do our jobs and find a path forward-together.

We can reopen the government. We can restore health care for the millions of Americans who are counting on us. But it requires urgency. And it requires trust. And it requires a willingness to come to the table, now.

My Republicans colleagues control the White House, the House, and the Senate. The ball is in your court. Let's make a deal.

###

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.