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Dear Friend,
Welcome back to the McBride Memo, my weekly dispatch to Delawareans. This was week four of the government shutdown, still with no end in sight. I split my week between Delaware and D.C., and here are five quick takeaways from my work:
1. One Big Thing: On Tuesday, I sat down with Delaware nurses and nursing leaders to talk about what this shutdown—and the ongoing attacks on health care—really mean on the ground. Their stories were personal, urgent, and deeply moving.
From Dover to Seaford, they described hospitals stretched to the brink, rural clinics fighting to keep doors open, and colleagues leaving the profession due to impossible strain. Put simply: health care workers are not asking for miracles, they’re simply asking for stability.
As the Trump administration threatens ACA premium tax credits and cuts Medicaid funding, it’s health care providers like nurses who will shoulder the fallout—and patients who will pay the price. These conversations reaffirmed what I’ve been saying for months: health care is a moral commitment, not a bargaining chip. I’ll keep fighting for every Delawarean’s right to care—because no one should lose their nurse, their clinic, or their peace of mind to politics. Read more here.
2. Driving The News: If the government doesn’t reopen soon, millions of Americans could lose access to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) next month. For Delaware, that means tens of thousands of families, seniors, and children at risk of going hungry—at a moment when costs are already high and the food banks are stretched thin.
The Republican budget passed earlier this year will gut food assistance programs across the country—cutting hundreds of thousands of meals and deepening hardship for working families. It’s cruel, it’s shortsighted, and, worst of all, it’s entirely avoidable.
Congress can both reopen the government and keep the country fed. I’m urging Republican leadership to come back to the table, stop holding food assistance hostage, and work with my colleagues and I to protect the programs that keep our neighbors nourished and our communities strong. Hunger is not a political tool—it’s a moral test, and we should not fail it.
3. ICYMI: This week, Americans watched something we never should have to see: the East Wing of the White House reduced to rubble. The People’s House, the symbol of the Presidency, is being gutted to make room for a gilded ballroom, funded by the President’s billionaire friends at a cost of nearly $300 million.
At a time when families are struggling with rising costs, unaffordable health premiums, and a care infrastructure stretched to its limits, this choice says everything about the priorities of this administration. Instead of investing in workers, seniors, and caregivers, the President is building a monument to excess and ego.
The legality of this demolition may still be debated, but its message is not: the wellbeing of ordinary Americans matters less to this President than the celebration of his wealthiest donors. While he builds ballrooms, we’re working to rebuild trust, to hold this administration accountable, and to keep our government focused on service, not spectacle.
4. Legislative Priority: This week, I joined colleagues in signing a letter to Treasury Secretary State Bessent raising alarms about the administration’s quiet approval of a bailout package for Argentina’s government—one that was negotiated behind closed doors and sidesteps the democratic process by supporting Trump’s ally and the President of Argentina, Javier Milei. Moreover, Delaware farmers desperately need relief from Trump’s tariffs and this action only empowers Argentina to export to China, further undercutting the success of farmers here at home. At a time when Delaware farmers are struggling to make ends meet, funneling billions into a foreign economy while our own economy struggles is deeply misguided. If the U.S. can bail out foreign nations, surely it can invest in the people who build this country.
I also signed a letter to Secretary Bessent calling out the planned reductions-in-force (RIFs) at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These cuts threaten to hollow out the very agency tasked with protecting Americans from the mental health and addiction crises tearing through our communities. In Delaware, I’ve already heard from constituents who rely on SAMHSA programs for care and support, and who work at impacted departments. These layoffs aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—they are counselors, researchers, and civil servants doing life-saving work in Delaware and around the country. I’ll continue pushing to reverse these cuts and defend the federal workforce that keeps our communities safe and cared for.
5. Our State of Neighbors: Over the past few weeks, I’ve been grateful to spend time back home in Delaware—listening to neighbors share how this moment feels for them. From the uncertainty of the shutdown to the strain of rising health care costs, Delawareans are showing the same resilience and resolve that have always defined our state. Every conversation—every story of perseverance and leadership—grounds my work in Washington. I’ll keep heading back to D.C. to fight for solutions, but it’s the voices here at home that remind me who and what we’re fighting for.
- In Washington, I had the honor of meeting Pastor Brobbye Gyening of Olivet Presbyterian Church in Middletown, who was in town for the ONE Campaign’s 2025 Faith Summit. We talked about how faith and service intersect—how Delaware congregations are stepping up to advance justice, health, and opportunity not just at home, but around the world. Pastor Gyening shared his commitment to global health programs like PEPFAR and the Global Fund, which have saved millions of lives. His message was clear: compassion doesn’t stop at our borders. Faith communities are powerful partners in building a healthier, fairer, more hopeful world—and Delaware is leading by example.
- I also toured the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation and the Copeland Maritime Center—where history and education meet craftsmanship and innovation. From shipbuilding demonstrations to youth programs that connect students with Delaware’s maritime legacy, the work being done there embodies what I love most about our state: creativity rooted in community. Their team reminded me that preserving our history isn’t just about honoring the past—it’s about inspiring the next generation.
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| Rep. McBride and Pastor Brobbye Gyening. |
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| Rep. McBride tours the Kalmar Nyckel. |
Weeks like this remind me that even in the middle of gridlock, Delaware never stops moving forward. From nurses safeguarding our health to neighbors feeding one another, this is who we are—and it’s what keeps me going.
That’s what it means to be a state of neighbors.
| Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. |
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| Sarah McBride |
| Delaware's Congresswoman |
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- Medicare Open Enrollment is now underway! From October 15 to December 7, seniors can review their current Medicare plans, compare new options, and make changes to protect their health and their wallets. Even during a government shutdown, this critical window ensures every older adult has access to the health coverage they need and deserve. Learn more and explore your options at medicare.gov, or contact our office for assistance.
- Are you an innovative small business seeking investment? Delaware’s Division of Small Business is racing toward its year-end goal in the “Race to $14M” initiative—working to award every remaining dollar of federal State Small Business Credit Initiative funds by December 31. Nearly $10 million has already been invested in homegrown innovators like Aternium, BioCurie, and Versogen, fueling clean energy, biotech, and data breakthroughs right here in Delaware. These investments mean more jobs, stronger startups, and a brighter economic future for our state. Learn more at de.gov/ssbci!
- Time is running out to register for Delaware EARNS! Don’t wait—missing the October 2025 deadline could result in penalties for your business. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s legally required. Get started at EARNSDelaware.com.
- 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.
- 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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