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Dear Friend,
This week’s McBride Memo is a little different—but that’s because the stakes are too high for anything less than total focus.
Like my colleagues and I have been warning for months, Republicans in Congress have made public this week that they are moving forward with their plans to gut Medicaid.
It’s one of the most devastating and far-reaching attacks this administration has launched—and I want you to know exactly what’s happening, and what I’m doing to stop it.
1. One big thing: Medicaid is on the chopping block. Congressional Republicans are advancing a slash and burn proposal to a program that covers nearly 1 in 4 Delawareans and nearly half of all kids in our state. The Republican budget would rip coverage from nearly 14 million Americans, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
2. Driving the news: Let’s be clear: Medicaid is not a side program—it is a pillar of American health care.
In Delaware, Medicaid:
- Covers nearly 40% of Delaware kids
- Pays for 42% of births
- Supports 3 in 5 nursing home residents
If Republicans pass this budget, Delaware workers and their children will lose their health care. Rural hospitals will close. Sick people will be forced to overcrowded emergency rooms. Our neighbors will die.
3. On the floor: This week, I took to the House floor to speak out against what amounts to the largest cut to health care in American history. Watch my full floor speech here.
This isn’t “belt-tightening.” It’s life-threatening.
I shared the story of Caroline, a young woman from Newark who lives with a rare condition that requires intensive medical care. Without Medicaid, she told me plainly: she could die. She’s not alone. Across Delaware, families, caregivers, doctors, and hospital leaders have told me the same thing: these cuts would do irreparable harm.
And let’s be clear about what’s actually in their proposal:
- It adds bureaucratic red tape to kick eligible people off the rolls.
- It includes a backdoor abortion ban that defunds trusted family planning clinics.
- It would raise out-of-pocket costs on working people.
All of that just to pay for more tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.
I didn’t come to Congress to rubber-stamp cruelty. I came to fight for aging parents in Sussex, for kids in Wilmington, for caregivers in Kent—and for the millions of Americans who deserve better.
Medicaid saves lives. That’s why I’ll keep pushing to protect it—and to ensure it reflects our values of dignity, inclusion, and care.
4. Legislative priority: Protecting Medicaid. Medicaid saves lives. That’s why I’m standing up against these cuts alongside our neighbors. We should be protecting and strengthening the care that millions of Americans rely on.
5. Our state of neighbors: Since the majority in Congress began advancing this plan, I’ve heard from hundreds of Delawareans who can’t sleep — gripped by the fear of losing the care that keeps them, or their kids, alive. Here are just a few of their stories:
- “... I am a single mom with 1 child and it is very simple, without Medicaid, neither of us would have insurance.” – A mom from Lewes
- “Having the continued coverage through Medicaid has meant that we can all keep taking our literal life saving medications… I would be completely without care without these programs.” – Kate from New Castle
- “... 1 month after [my son’s] 7th birthday, he went into the hospital for stomach pains and the doctors looked for appendicitis but instead found a blood clot… Thanks to Medicaid, I get to watch my little boy grow up.” – Danielle from Dover
- “... Never had thought much about Medicaid as it didn’t apply to me… until it did. The program saved my life…” – Delaware neighbor
If Medicaid has helped you or your family, your story matters. Submit your story here.
| Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. |
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| Sarah McBride |
| Delaware's Congresswoman |
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P.S. I also introduced two new bills this week:
- The Equal Opportunity for All Investors Act – to improve access to capital for minority-, veteran-, and women-owned businesses and open up more investment opportunities for middle-class Americans. Read more here.
- The FAIR Leave Act – to ensure fair and equitable paid family leave policies that protect workers nationwide. Read more here about the bill. I share my own story as a caregiver here.
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- Service Academy Nominations: Our office is now accepting applications from Delaware students seeking nominations to our nation’s prestigious service academies! As a member of Congress, it is my honor to support these students in their efforts to serve our nation in uniform. The application deadline is October 15th and you can find more information on eligibility and application requirements 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
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