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Dear Friend,
Welcome back to the McBride Memo—your weekly update from Washington (and a bit of Delaware), perfect for your morning cup of coffee.
1. One Big Thing: This week, my first bill passed the House—unanimously! The Equal Opportunity for All Investors Act is bipartisan legislation that would unlock capital for entrepreneurs and small business owners who’ve been left out for far too long. Current law allows only millionaires to participate in the markets that fuel small businesses—shutting out countless Americans, especially women, veterans, and people of color, based on wealth, not knowledge. Our bill guarantees that the markets look more like the Main Streets that they should be investing in. This is about fairness.
As the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce told me, this bill helps “close the gap for diverse business owners.” I am proud to be delivering this real result for Delawareans, and now we are working with the Senate to get this bill over the finish line. You can read more about the bill here and watch my floor remarks here.
2. Driving The News: Another week and another news cycle where the Jeffrey Epstein files will not go quietly. In order to avoid a vote on compelling the FBI to release the files to the public, Speaker Johnson and Congressional Republicans have decided to dismiss the House early for the summer recess.
Instead of using the levers of government at their disposal to address the rising cost of living or provide long-term funding for the government—the deadline to fund the government by October 1 is quickly approaching—Congressional Republicans are headed home to further avoid answering to the American public. But there are no illusions from where Delawareans sit. I will continue to call out the actions of this administration and Congress as they work to enact policy that prioritizes special interests over people, and raise alarms about the real-life impacts of this policy of distraction.
3. On The Floor: This week, I gave two speeches from the House floor.
First, I took to the floor to speak out against the Trump administration’s shameful ban on transgender troops. These servicemembers—some with combat missions under their belt, some ranked in the top 5% by their commanders— are all patriots who are committed to serving their country. Full stop. Banning and dismissing them from service does not make us safer. It just betrays our values. I made one thing abundantly clear: I see you, I honor you, and I will not stop fighting for a country worthy of your service. You can hear my full remarks here.
Later, I rose to honor Emily Green, a teacher from Woodside whose students are preserving the stories of Delaware’s silent heroes. Through the organization National History Day, her class researched the lives of two Korean War veterans—visiting cemeteries, writing eulogies, and making sure these veterans’ names live on. Emily’s work is a beautiful and powerful reminder that history isn’t just dates and facts, it is people, service, and memory. You can watch my speech here.
4. Legislative Priority: Last week, I joined a bipartisan effort to support the development of nursing workforce centers across the country. The bill, the National Nursing Workforce Center Act, would strengthen our nursing workforce by establishing centers for nursing workforce research and policy coordination nationwide.
Why? Because our nurses are exhausted and deserve our support and the Trump administration is gutting vital nursing programs when we need them most. This bill is about fighting for stronger care, better staffing, and respect for the nurses holding our health care system together. You can check out reporting by the Delaware Business Times here and read more about the bill here!
5. Our State of Neighbors: This week, Delaware showed up in big ways—and here are just a few that left me feeling fulfilled and refreshed:
- I was heartbroken to learn of the passing of 1st Lt. Ray Firmani, a World War II veteran and beloved Delawarean. Ray flew 25 missions over Europe and lived his life with patriotism and grace. I am holding his family in my heart as we continue to honor his legacy.
- I have been going to the Delaware State Fair since high school, and since we got out of session early this week, I got to visit twice! Supporting our agricultural community and sharing good times with friends like Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton and former Secretary Michael Scuse is always a great reminder of just how fun Delaware has always been!
- My dear friend and former colleague, State Senator Marie Pinkney, lit up my week with a visit to DC. I showed her around the Capitol and she joined me and my team for meetings with Delawareans, and swapped stories from home. I loved showing her what life on the Hill looks like, and felt so refreshed by having a neighbor in Washington.
- Americans for the Arts came by and I got to chat with Lucy Zhang, an advocate from Wilmington, to talk about protecting NEA funding and the power of arts education.
- The Patient Quality of Life Coalition, including Maria Gatto from Lewes, shared moving stories of palliative care in Delaware and the need to expand training and funding to broaden and maintain access to this essential care.
- Finally, Janice Castro, an inspiring young artist and advocate from the University of Delaware and a member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, came to the Capitol to advocate for student access to SNAP and thoughtful, inclusive immigration policy. I even got the chance to show her around the Capitol—her authenticity and passion reminded me of why I first stepped into public service.
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| Rep. McBride and 1st Lt. Ray Firmani. |
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| Rep. McBride at her office's Delaware State Fair booth with Delaware's Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton, Deputy Secretary Chris Brosch, and Deputy Principal Assistant George Class-Peters. |
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| Rep. McBride and State Senator Pinkney. |
As always, I am still working on keeping these more brief! Maybe next week (spoiler: I doubt it…).
| Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. |
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| Sarah McBride |
| Delaware's Congresswoman |
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- Delaware’s Division of Small Business launched EDGE 2.0, a grant competition offering over $1.15 million in flexible funding to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. The recent revamp includes higher award totals, a simpler online process, and expanded eligibility for early-stage companies with fewer than 15 employees. Applications open August 8 and close September 4. Learn more on their website!
- Are you working in a STEM field in Delaware—or thinking about it? The new STAR Fund just launched to help folks like you pay down student loans while building a career here at home. Thanks to a partnership between the Delaware Division of Small Business and BioConnect DE, eligible workers in science, tech, engineering, math, and related fields can apply for up to $6,000 in tuition reimbursement over four years. Learn more and apply here!
- Congressional App Challenge: Calling all young coders! The Congressional App Challenge is now open to all middle and high school students in Delaware. This nationwide competition is a chance to flex your creativity, build real-world STEM skills, and develop your very own app. The winning app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol and featured at the national #HouseOfCode celebration. Learn more and get started here.
- Scholarship Opportunity: Students facing financial hurdles in their final year of school may be eligible for up to $2,500 through the Sallie Mae Fund’s Completing the Dream Scholarship, offered in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. These awards are designed to help cover unexpected costs that could prevent students from graduating. Applications are open now and will be accepted until December 1, 2025 — or until funds run out. Learn more: SallieMae.com.
- 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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