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Dear Friend,
Welcome to this week’s McBride Memo—my dispatch to you from D.C. and Delaware. This was another week full of confronting the work ahead, demanding transparency, and trying to cut through the noise to ensure government is working for the people. Here are five quick(ish) things:
1. One Big Thing: Earlier this week, I stood alongside Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu to condemn the impending health care premium hikes which will face millions of Americans and tens of thousands of Delawareans without action.
Here is the truth: protecting the access to affordable health care is a choice, as is addressing the greater affordability crisis in America. Congressional Republicans and President Trump have made their choice clear: choosing to impose tariffs that directly impact small businesses and consumers, choosing to cut food assistance, and choosing to insert a one-trillion dollar bomb into the center of the American health care system. That is Trumpcare–and we’re living under it right now.
I uplifted the story of our neighbor, Dave, who shared that his wife’s Marketplace plan is set to jump from $350 to $1,200 per month in 2026 when the enhanced premium tax credits expire on December 31st. That is an unsustainable and undue burden, one that will mean losing the coverage that her health relies on.
It is stories like this one that remind me what this work is about and roots my resolve in your voices. So, as I said earlier this week, as long as there is air in my lungs and breath in my body, I will continue to fight for your right to access quality and affordable health care. You can watch my full remarks here.
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| Rep. McBride joins her colleagues to condemn health care cuts. |
2. Driving the News: Over the last few weeks, there has been dangerous reporting about actions taken by this administration’s defensive operations off the coast of Venezuela. Specifically, the reports which, if true, would constitute a war crime on the part of the Defense Secretary—including claims that Secretary Hegseth ordered follow-up strikes which led to the killing of victims of a boat attack.
These are serious allegations, and my colleagues and I will ensure that we understand all of the facts and hold any guilty parties to account. Regardless, the actions by this administration off the coast of Venezuela - including the bombing of these vessels - have been dangerous, deadly, and likely illegal.
Bottomline: no member of the executive branch should be able to act without impunity and avoid oversight. Unilateral, violent, and deadly attacks off the coast of a sovereign country is a serious action and we must continue to demand that the administration justify their actions with clear evidence. This reckless sidestepping of Congressional authority is both unacceptable and dangerous—it is why I joined my colleagues in cosponsoring a resolution demanding that any hostilities be authorized by Congress. I intend to work alongside my colleagues to continue raising the alarm and calling on this administration to offer transparency to the American people about the actions that are taken against foreign nations.
3. On the Floor: Speaking of potentially and clearly illegal actions by this administration, I took to the House floor this week to sound the alarm about their illegal plan to dismantle the Department of Education. Let’s be honest about what this is—despite what The President and the Secretary of Education want to call these actions—this is about taking money away from students who need it the most and lining the pockets of the wealthiest.
The Department of Education plays a pivotal role across this country, and up and down Delaware. At home, $530 million in federal education funding supports more than 1,100 teaching positions–removing this funding would mean students without teachers and schools without support.
Dismantling the Department of Education would send a clear message to parents, students, and teachers that government is not invested in the success of younger generations. That is unacceptable. I will keep fighting for Delawarean students and teachers because we should be investing in their futures, not abandoning them. I called on my colleagues to reject this reckless crusade against public education and stand in opposition to this cruelty. You can watch my full remarks here.
4. Committee Business & Legislative Priority: A two for one, this week! Earlier this week we secured an important bipartisan win for seniors and families. After months of pressure, CMS reversed course on the largest proposed home health cut in history—reducing it from 6.4% to just 1.3%. Thanks to the bipartisan effort I led with Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), nearly $1 billion in critical home health funding will now be preserved for the caregivers and providers responsible for keeping seniors healthy at home and out of the hospital. This is what common-sense problem solving looks like—and I’ll keep working across the aisle to strengthen the care economy and protect the dignity of aging Delawareans.
Also this week, in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I pressed the Under Secretary for Science at the Department of Energy (DOE) on a claim that has no place in serious policymaking—the idea that wind and solar power are “worthless when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.” In Delaware, we know better. And frankly, science does too.
I called out the absurdity of that perspective because families across our state are living with the consequences of energy costs driven up by partisan interference, not by clean energy. DOE’s own data shows wind and solar are among the lowest-cost and fastest-growing sources of electricity—helping keep prices down and strengthening our grid. So when the administration zeroes out research for these technologies, it isn’t about efficiency. It’s about ideology.
I pushed the Under Secretary to commit to correcting misinformation within the Department and to restore support for the innovation that keeps our energy system strong. Because Delawareans deserve policy rooted in facts, not talking points—and a government that strengthens our energy future instead of undermining it. You can watch my full remarks and questioning here.
5. Our State of Neighbors: This week we got to bring a bit more Delaware Day celebration to D.C.! On Wednesday, Senator Blunt Rochester and I attended Senator Coons and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of Delaware here on Capitol Hill. We got to the company and cuisine of Delawarean small businesses all in the company of our neighbors. Even my parents were in town for the occasion! Like so many Delawarean experiences, it was a joyful celebration of the impact of the greatest state in The Union.
Here are a few more meetings I got to have with Delawareans:
At the University of Delaware, I had the privilege of delivering this year’s Soles Lecture—standing in the same tradition that shaped so many Delaware leaders. What struck me most wasn’t the size of the crowd, but the students who showed up ready to wrestle with big questions about democracy, persuasion, and hope. Their engagement was a powerful reminder that the future is not something we inherit—it’s something we build together.
On Monday, I joined Beebe Healthcare and our federal delegation to cut the ribbon on their new mobile outreach vans—three vehicles that will bring primary care, behavioral health, and harm-reduction services directly to Sussex County neighborhoods. Watching Beebe’s team bless the fleet and proudly open the doors to these rolling clinics, you could feel what this moment meant: care delivered with dignity, compassion, and no wrong door for anyone seeking help.
I also sat down with leaders from the Delaware Federation of NARFE, who are fighting every day to protect the earned benefits of federal workers and retirees. These are neighbors who spent decades serving this nation, and they deserve stability, respect, and systems that work. Their stories were a clear reminder that good government starts with honoring the people who have dedicated their lives to it.
I met with the We Work for Health Delaware coalition. We Work is a group of nurses, faith leaders, community partners, and business voices who all share one common mission: ensuring Delawareans can access the medicines and treatments they need. Our conversation centered on the need to crack down on unfair practices by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). One thing is clear: we need to shine a light on PBMs’ abusive practices and enforce real transparency. Nothing should stand in the way of independent pharmacists thriving or patients being able to afford their medications.
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| Rep. McBride at the Beebe Healthcare ribbon cutting. |
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| Rep. McBride answers questions during her Soles Lecture. |
From lecture halls and evening celebrations of Delaware’s success, my neighbors are truly leading with purpose and heart. A nice reminder of what happens when we center what matters most.
| Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. |
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| Sarah McBride |
| Delaware's Congresswoman |
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P.S. This week, President Trump announced a $12 billion aid package for American farmers to offset low crop prices and lost exports due to his trade war. While a welcome reprieve for our farmers, this was an expected outcome of the President’s chaotic tariff policies. Most importantly, however, farmers who qualify for Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program payments should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5pm ET on December 19, 2025. Learn more by clicking here.
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- Summer seminar at the United States Air Force Academy—The Summer Seminar at the US Air Force Academy gives high school juniors in the summer before their senior year to spend five days living the immersive experience of an Academy cadet! There are three sessions in the month of June, and applications close January 15th! Learn more and apply here.
- Small Business Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available now—As a result of the April 1, 2025 drought, small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in Kent and New Castle county can apply for low interest federal disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration until December 8! Funds from these loans can be used to pay fixed debts, amend payroll and accounts payable expenses, and other bills. Funding is available even if the business did not sustain physical damages as a result of the disaster. Learn more and apply here.
- Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health coverage is officially open! From November 1 through January 15, Delawareans can visit HealthCare.gov to enroll, review, or update their 2025 plans. Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, take a few minutes to explore new options– premiums and benefits can change each year. Need help? Call 1-800-318-2596, visit HealthCare.gov or reach out to our office for support.
- Health Insurance Premium Program (HIPP) – If you’re struggling to afford your health insurance premiums while managing kidney failure, The American Kidney Fund’s (AKF) Health Insurance Premium Program (HIPP) may be able to help. AKF’s national program provides grants to help dialysis and transplant patients pay their monthly premiums—ensuring continued access to life-saving care. Learn more and see if you qualify here.
- 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!
- 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!
- 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: https://mcbride.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency
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