October 28, 2025 The Senator’s opening remarks can be found here. Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, today led a hearing titled, “Sea Change: Reviving Commercial Shipbuilding.” Members of the subcommittee heard from industry leaders on the need for a revitalization of the commercial shipbuilding industry so the United States can compete on a global scale. The Senator utilized her opening statement to highlight the skyrocketing costs Americans face, and will continue to face, as a result of the prolonged government shutdown. To watch the full hearing, click here. Blunt Rochester’s

October 27, 2025 Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Chris Coons (both D-Del.), Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), along with dozens of their Senate colleagues, introduced legislation to pay military personnel, federal employees, and federal contractors whose salaries have been interrupted by the ongoing government shutdown. The bill ensures that both furloughed employees, as well as employees who have been excepted from furlough status and are continuing to work, are guaranteed to receive their standard pay. The bill would also require that all employees receive any delayed compensation within one week of enactment, to ensure

October 23, 2025 Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester (both D-Del.), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led over 20 of their colleagues in introducing legislation to pay all federal employees – both those excepted and furloughed – as well as our servicemembers and federal contractors during the current Republican-led shutdown. The senators’ legislation, the True Shutdown Fairness Act, would also prevent the Trump administration’s attempts at mass firings (reductions in force or RIFs) while the government is shut down. “The Trump administration has used dedicated federal public servants as political pawns and now wants to pick and choose which federal workers get paid. Federal workers should not go without pay and