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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. Here are five quick(ish) things:
1. One Big Thing: This week, I joined Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester, Mayor Tolson, and community leaders to break ground on the future of Harrington. Thanks to $3.4 million in federal investment, we’re transforming 131 acres of land into a hub of opportunity—an industrial park that could bring up to 750 jobs right here to Kent County. This isn’t just about roads and sewer lines, it’s about families being able to thrive where they live and making possibilities reality.
It’s about young people being able to stay and build their futures in Delaware. And it’s about a government that works hand-in-hand with local leaders and businesses to make big things possible.
Standing on that ground, I said it plainly: this is more than an investment in development—it’s an investment in people. When we work together, Delaware delivers. I could not be prouder to have stood alongside my colleagues in delivering real results, right here in Kent County, for our neighbors. You can read more about it from Delaware Public Media.
2. Driving The News: President Trump announced this week that he intends to sign an executive order abolishing mail-in voting, a move he even bragged was praised by Vladimir Putin. Let’s be clear: banning mail-in ballots, gerrymandering districts, eliminating voting machines—these aren’t policies to strengthen democracy. They’re tools to dismantle it.
As I said earlier this week, a president with popular policies wouldn’t need to rig the rules of the game. This is an all-out assault not just on free and fair elections—but on American democracy itself. Delawareans know what’s at stake, because when we lose our voice at the ballot box, we lose the very foundation of self-government.
I will keep fighting against these authoritarian attacks and working to protect every Delawarean’s sacred right to vote and will continue calling out these brazen affronts to our rights—because this is far from business as usual.
3. ICYMI: Last week, Delaware lost one of its giants. Former Congressman and Governor Mike Castle passed away at the age of 86.
Mike Castle was a man of decency who served our state in nearly every role—from legislator to governor to U.S. House member, in the very seat I now hold. He expanded access to health care for kids, championed medical research, and always worked across the aisle with respect and collaboration.
In both of the seats I’ve held that he once occupied—First District State Senator and now Delaware’s at-large Congresswoman—I’ve tried to learn from his example. His leadership helped build the Delaware we know today, and we are all indebted to his lifetime of service. My prayers are with Jane and all who loved him.
I encourage you to learn more about Governor Castle’s life by reading his obituary in the Delaware News Journal here.
4. Legislative Priority: This week, I proudly joined as an original cosponsor of the SUN Act—a bill that ensures transparency and accountability every time the National Guard is deployed in our own streets.
Why does this matter? Because what we’ve seen in Washington, D.C.—with the National Guard used as a political tool to intimidate rather than to protect—is both dystopian and dangerous. The SUN Act would require the president to justify any non-disaster Guard deployment, report its costs, detail its impacts on communities, and certify that it didn’t compromise our ability to respond to real emergencies.
Why? Because occupying an American city doesn’t reduce crime. It undermines safety, erodes trust, and consolidates power. As Delawareans know from the painful history of Wilmington’s occupation in the late 1960s, the scars of such misuse can last for generations. This legislation is about making sure it never happens unchecked again.
5. Our State of Neighbors: Nothing fills my cup like connecting with Delawareans up and down our state—and this week was a full one.
- I started in Lewes with a Meals on Wheels ride-along. For decades, volunteers have delivered not just meals but dignity and companionship to so many of our homebound neighbors. Seeing these daily acts of kindness up close reminded me that the strength of our state is measured, in part, in how we care for our older adults.
- In Milton, I visited Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding, where horses and healing go hand in hand. For nearly four decades, they have connected everyone from children with disabilities to veterans coping with PTSD to therapeutic horse riding. Their work shows that therapy can offer invaluable rewards like confidence, laughter, and the unique bond between rider and horse.
- In Seaford, I toured the new Royale Group facility, a redevelopment of the old BASF plant that will create new jobs, and transform the space into an innovative hub of manufacturing and distribution. It’s a great example of how Delaware can honor our industrial roots while building a stronger, more sustainable future.
- Back in Wilmington, I sat down with my friend, State Senator Marie Pinkney, for a roundtable on Trump’s devastating Medicaid cuts. Our state’s health care leaders were clear: gutting this lifeline isn’t belt-tightening—it’s cruelty. I’m already taking action to diffuse this bomb that Trump and Congressional Republicans have inserted into the American health care system by co-sponsoring the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act–legislation that would repeal the Big Ugly Bill’s health care cuts and permanently extend the ACA premium tax credits. We left united in our commitment to protect the care that so many Delawareans depend on.
- I also sat down with providers from the Delaware Healthcare Association this week to hear their concerns about how rural hospitals will be impacted by Trump’s Big Ugly Bill and strategize how to best mitigate the impact. It’s a tough reality we now face, but I’m reminded that Team Delaware always comes together to find creative solutions. That’s the Delaware way.
- Finally, I had the privilege of attending two important events to recognize investments in the future of the greatest state in the Union. In Southbridge, I joined Ezion Fair Baptist Church and FHLBank Pittsburgh to celebrate the near completion of 10 new affordable housing units for seniors and neighbors experiencing homelessness–providing more of our neighbors with the stability and dignity they deserve. And at the Challenge Program’s Gibbs Center grand opening, we saw a new hub of opportunity where young people can gain skills, earn paychecks, and build dignity with every piece of furniture they create. These events were a reminder of what we can achieve when we collaborate with local and community leaders as well as the public and private sectors that all work together to support our state by investing in our neighbors.
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| Rep. McBride participates in the Harrington Industrial Park groundbreaking. |
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| Rep. McBride during the roundtable with State Senator Pinkney and health care leaders. |
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| Rep. McBride addresses the crowd in Southbridge. |
Whew—so much for keeping it short this time. Thanks for reading along, and I hope this week’s memo was as fulfilling for you to read as it was for me to experience.
| 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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