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Dear Friend,
Welcome back to the McBride Memo—your weekly update on what I’m working on in our state of neighbors and in Washington, DC. This week reminded me why facts matter, why partnerships matter, and why showing up—especially close to home—matters most.
1. One Big Thing: This week in Wilmington, I had the honor of hosting a roundtable on gun violence prevention with former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, the Coalition for a Safer Delaware, and a room full of Delaware’s top public safety voices—from community advocates to law enforcement leaders.
We gathered to talk about the harsh reality: the Trump-Vance administration has gutted the very agencies responsible for stopping gun trafficking and illegal firearm sales. While Delaware has made historic progress to address the epidemic of gun violence, the actions by the current administration and Republicans in Congress undermine our safety.
At the roundtable, we discussed the urgency of federal action and outlined how our state can continue to serve as a national model—by strengthening dealer licensing, improving crime gun traceability, and investing in community-based violence prevention all while keeping community perspectives at the forefront. Attorney General Kathy Jennings said it plainly: “We cannot stop gun violence without stopping the illegal flow of guns.”
I’m grateful to Gabby, to our state leaders, and to every single person doing the hard, urgent work of prevention. She didn’t mince words: “Be bold. Be courageous. The nation is counting on you.”
While the Trump administration guts life-saving measures, Delaware continues to lead with policy, investments, and programming that will help end the scourge of gun violence and provide communities with a path forward. You can follow WDEL’s reporting here.
2. Driving The News: We continue to see the rampant abuse of power by Donald Trump and his enablers in public office. Vice President JD Vance, who once decried Donald Trump’s behavior, is traveling the country trying to convince Republican legislators to follow Texas in redrawing Congressional districts in the middle of the decade in a blatantly partisan attempt to pad the president’s majority in Congress.
They are reportedly and inappropriately using the FBI to track Texas lawmakers who are not violating any federal or state criminal laws. Now, Trump has called for a completely unnecessary and illegal mid-decade Census to further avoid accountability. All of this on top of this administration continuing to break its promise to release the Epstein Files.
This effort to avoid accountability and transparency ensnared the traditionally non-partisan Bureau of Labor Statistics as Trump fired the lead commissioner after a jobs report showed weak hiring numbers and downward revisions to earlier data. His reasoning? The objective, independent data revealed the truth about Trump’s economic agenda: it does not benefit working Americans.
Contrary to what the President thinks, you don’t solve economic problems by silencing the people reporting on them. You solve them by listening, understanding the scope, and—most importantly—delivering smart solutions.
Changing the rules of elections, breaking his promise of transparency, and firing officials who bring facts to light isn’t the behavior of a confident or strong leader. They are the actions of an insecure and politically unpopular wannabe. And I’ll continue to fight back against it.
3. ICYMI: I’m excited to share that my team will be hosting our next Mobile Office Hours on Monday, August 25 from 4:30–6:30 PM at the Route 9 Library in New Castle.
If you or someone you know is having trouble with a federal agency or program like Social Security, Medicare, immigration services, federal tax refunds, or any other federal issue—come by. No speeches, no politics—our Constituent Advocate Team is there only to help.
We encourage RSVPs so we can prepare, but walk-ins are welcome, too. You can RSVP here.
4. Legislative Priority: I’ve heard from many concerned Delawareans recently about how their SNAP benefits were stolen due to card skimming and fraud—and the toll it’s taking on them and their families. It’s why I’ve joined a bipartisan bill that could help fix the issue. How? By fully reimbursing families who’ve been impacted. It’s called the Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act, and it eliminates arbitrary reporting windows and caps—ensuring every stolen dollar is replaced.
The bill aims to ensure families and individuals who are facing food insecurity are protected from being cheated out of their benefits. Because every family deserves the dignity of food on the table. And when bad actors steal food assistance from our neighbors—like Trump’s Big Ugly Bill is set to do—Congress has a moral obligation to protect this lifeline.
5. Our State of Neighbors: This week, I had the opportunity to meet with some more of our neighbors. One group shared an important truth: that Delawareans know what they need. They’re not asking for special treatment. They’re asking for fairness, partnership, and a government that shows up.
- At B’nai B’rith House in Claymont, I had the chance to speak directly with older adults about what it means to age with dignity. These residents showed me what we know well in Delaware: that affordable housing, accessible health care, and strong social safety nets aren’t luxuries—they’re necessities. We talked about everything from prescription drug prices to protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP from attacks by the administration. Their message was clear: our aging population deserves to live with stability, security, and respect.
- In Middletown, I sat down with Mayor Branner and his leadership team, where we discussed the infrastructure and housing projects that accompany fast-growing towns. The Mayor’s leadership has helped to bring investments to Middletown that are creating jobs, boosting the tax base, and building it into a hub of growth and opportunity. We talked about wastewater systems, public safety, and making sure that federal investments are keeping pace with community needs.
- I want to take a moment to recognize Ian Steele, a student at the University of Delaware who was recently selected to participate in the 42nd program year of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX)! Selected from a competitive pool of qualified applicants, CBYX gives Ian the chance to spend a year living in Germany where he will be studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program. This opportunity is such an exciting example of soft diplomacy with a valuable ally like Germany, congratulations Ian!
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| Rep. McBride and Rep. Giffords take a group photo with roundtable participants. |
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| Rep. McBride speaks with residents at B’nai B’rith House. |
Look at that—I managed to keep it a bit shorter this week! Thanks for keeping up to date, talk soon.
| 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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