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Dear Friend,
Welcome to the McBride Memo, where I share five quick things from my past week for you to catch up on during your morning cup of coffee — my favorite part of the day. If you’re new here, this is my chance to keep you all updated on how I am working for all Delawareans in our nation’s capital and beyond!
1. One big thing: On Thursday, my colleague Mike Lawler (R-NY) and I introduced the bipartisan Supporting Avian Virus Eradication (SAVE) Our Poultry Act. This bill designates the avian flu as a high-priority research area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The goal of this legislation is to safeguard producers and the national food supply from the virus. When I met with a farmer in Middletown, he expressed real concerns about how avian flu could affect his flock and his livelihood. The SAVE Our Poultry Act is about supporting our farmers in their efforts to protect their animals, their markets, and their futures. Check out more here.
2. Driving the news: On Wednesday, my colleagues and I went to the floor to vote on the Republican budget which seeks to slash welfare in favor of tax cuts for billionaires. When the deeply divided Republicans were unable to secure the votes, the budget vote was postponed until Thursday morning. On Thursday, every single Democrat voted no on this budget while a few Republican holdouts kept the vote open until finally, after over half an hour, the MAGA republicans passed the bill. Here’s my take.
- Alright listen, this isn’t driving the news, but it needs to be: Last week, I found out that the Trump administration decided to eliminate federal funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers in ten states—including Delaware. The Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership (DEMEP) has a direct and powerful impact on our economy. DEMEP helps companies in our state grow our manufacturing jobs by providing critical tools. Just in the last year, DEMEP supported $42.5 million in new investments, generated $35 million in new and retained sales, and helped retain 423 manufacturing jobs. I led 80 of my colleagues in calling on the Trump administration to reverse its abrupt and harmful decision. If we want to rebuild American manufacturing, we have to start by backing the manufacturers who are already here—especially small businesses. Read more here.
3. On the floor:
- On Wednesday I voted no on the partisan and absurd No Rogue Rulings Act which intended to skirt the authority of the courts to issue nationwide injunctions against this administration’s most harmful orders. Bottomline: this is a direct assault on the separation of powers and the checks and balances which are fundamental to defending and maintaining our democratic experiment.
- On Thursday, I voted no on the so-called “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act”. This legislation requires Americans to provide “documentary proof of citizenship” when voting. This would require American citizens to spend at least $130 on a passport in order to exercise their right to vote. I cannot support an effort which subjects voters and families to what results in a poll tax. I am dismayed by this legislation which will only further disenfranchise voters.
4. Legislative priority: It goes without saying but prices are rising in this country, and yet, the federal minimum wage has stayed stagnant. In Delaware, we raised the minimum wage and now, in Congress, I co-sponsored the Raise the Wage Act which continues this work. It would gradually raise the federal minimum wage for Americans nationwide from the current $7.25 to $17 by 2030. Also, this legislation guarantees both tipped workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage, ensuring decent and consistent pay. Here’s the deal: we can’t build an economy that works for everyone without raising wages.
5. Our state of neighbors: Nothing fills my cup like connecting with my neighbors from the greatest state in the union, and this week I had the chance to meet with incredible folks doing work that matters up and down Delaware and beyond! From Lewes to Washington, here is a peek at who I spent time with this week:
- In Delaware last week I visited the Lewes Public Library. This community-built library is a cornerstone of Eastern Sussex County, complete with teen tech suites and a Children's Learning Garden. But the support for our libraries is under threat — the Trump administration’s executive order dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services could gut nearly $1.38 million dollars to Delaware. Delawareans know that libraries are more than buildings — they’re lifelines, and I’ll keep fighting for the federal funding they need. You can check out WMDT’s reporting here.
- The Delaware Building Trades and LiUNA stopped by this week. I’m focused on protecting and expanding strong union jobs in Delaware. That means investing in transportation funding, energy infrastructure, and defending the social safety net. It also means advocating for prevailing wages, streamlining permitting, and standing strong against attacks on Medicare and collective bargaining. We also discussed the PRO Act — legislation I’m proud to cosponsor — to strengthen workers’ rights and protect the dignity of labor. I promised that my office would feel like a union hall, and this week really felt like it.
- Several postal workers came by from Wilmington this week to discuss the value of the USPS and the public good they provide us all. Delawareans and folks across the country rely on the USPS as an affordable way to pay bills, get their medicine delivered to their homes, and shop online. I'll always support our postal workers and their invaluable service to our state of neighbors and the country, and will push back against any attempts to privatize the USPS.
- I met with Lawrence Hess of the Military Officers Association of America to talk about housing, health care, and the real struggles facing our service members and veterans. I shared my support for bills like the Major Richard Star Act and the GUARD Act — both aimed at ensuring veterans get the benefits they’ve earned without exploitation. Serving our military families shouldn’t be a partisan issue — it’s a promise we keep, or we break.
- On Thursday, I got to spend time with an amazing group of students from the University of Delaware — plus their professors and alumni. We talked about what it means to serve, how policy impacts real people, and what advice I’d give to the next generation of changemakers. Seeing their passion reminded me that hope and hard work are contagious — and that Delaware’s future is bright.
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| Rep. McBride at the Lewes Public Library. |
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| Rep. McBride with LiUNA members. |
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| Rep. McBride meets with postal workers. |
Just when I thought I was learning to keep these shorter! Like I have said before, it is hard to distill a week in congress down to just five things! Maybe next week!
| Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. |
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| Sarah McBride |
| Delaware's Congresswoman |
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- NEXT WEEK: Our Constituent Advocate team is hosting mobile office hours in Dover on April 16th from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Dover Public Library, located at 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, DE 19901. They can help you navigate a federal agency — from Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to veterans assistance. You can RSVP for Mobile Office Hours here.
- Help navigating a federal agency: If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. While we cannot guarantee you a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem. If you need help navigating a federal agency, please visit: mcbride.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency
- Has Medicaid impacted your life? 1 in 4 Delawareans receive health care coverage from Medicaid. In Delaware, the federal government pays 60% of the cost of traditional Medicaid and 90% of the cost of Medicaid expansion. Our office is collecting stories from Delawareans about their access to Medicaid as Republicans in Congress continue to advance proposals to cut this life-saving program. Submit your story here.
- Appropriations Requests
- Scholarship Opportunity: the Sallie Mae Fund has partnered with Thurgood Marshall College Fund and is accepting applications for the 2025-26 Bridging the Dream Scholarship Programs.
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