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Dear Friend,
Welcome to this week’s McBride Memo—my dispatch to you from D.C. and Delaware. This will be the final McBride Memo of the year! I have so enjoyed this opportunity to connect with you each week, neighbor to neighbor, to share about my work and the people I get to meet.
Here are a few big things worth noting ahead of the holiday break:
1. One Big Thing: This holiday season has been full of joy for some and particularly heavy for others. From violence around the world to online worlds that seem to drive us apart, this season has been full of uncertainty and pain as much as joy and togetherness. No matter what or how you are celebrating, I hope that you are spending time with family, or those who feel like family, and that you are finding ways to stay centered and fulfilled this season.
I would like to leave this year with a note on the world, as I have seen it. Despite what you may think, despite what your algorithm may be showing you, despite what mainstream media may paint—I truly believe that we are not as divided as it may seem when we open social media or turn on the TV. We share a communal drive for a better life and a commitment to helping one another—an unrelenting hopefulness and determination for goodness.
Through conversations I have had this year with neighbors, community leaders, parents, veterans, students, and so many others, this singular truth has continued to ring true. The corrosive cruelty of this moment is a tool, one meant to drive us further apart from one another’s humanity. I have seen so many of you resisting that division.
Thank you for bringing endless joy to my work. I am spending this holiday season alongside my family, taking time to recharge for the work ahead. I hope you do as well. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
2. Driving the News: Of course, the year would not be complete without another development in the case of the Epstein Files. Last Friday, the Department of Justice was required by Congress to deliver the full trove of documents associated with the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices.
Now, the President and his administration have spent the last year flooding our feeds, timelines, and headlines with endless cruelty, corruption, and dangerous actions. So, here is the rundown on how we got where we are today:
For years, Donald Trump has demanded the release of the Epstein files. Then Trump reversed course—pressuring Speaker Johnson to keep the government shut down, and the House out of session, to block their release to the public. Eventually, Congressional Republicans began realizing the importance of releasing these files and we secured the signatures to force a House vote requiring Trump’s DOJ to release them.
Last Friday was the deadline for that release. Yet once again, Trump is defying the law, releasing heavily redacted and incomplete files. Even still, the release of more files early this morning have produced more damning evidence that further ensnares the president.
Let me be clear: anything short of a full, unredacted release is a continuation of the White House coverup. The victims and survivors—and the American people—deserve truth, accountability, and justice
3. ICYMI: Last week, I sat down with fellow Delawarean, realtor, and creator Zachary Foust for his show The Zach Foust Show. Our conversation centered on the need to address the affordability crisis in Delaware and beyond.
We also chatted about the state of discourse and public service today, the importance of investing in our communities, combatting corruption and big money in politics, the work ahead, and the fragile state of the economy at this moment. I really enjoyed our conversation, and I hope you’ll take a moment to listen or watch. You can find it here.
 Zachary Foust interviews Rep. McBride.
4. Legislative Priority: If there is one thing I hear about endlessly from my neighbors, it is the need to address the affordability crises Americans are facing. There is nearly no aspect of American life that has gone untouched by rising costs—from health care to groceries, household necessities to children's toys. Caught in the crosshairs of a haphazard tariff and trade war and a government that is more focused on culture wars than the life-threatening rise of health care subsidies, it is no wonder that the word affordability is everywhere.
And, contrary to the comments out of the White House, the affordability crisis is not a hoax, it is a reality felt by Americans everywhere. To that end, I joined lawmakers to introduce the American Affordability Act. This bill is comprehensive—it addresses affordable housing needs, child tax credit extensions, expands energy efficiency tax incentives, increases protections for workers and parents, and aims to lower the cost of education. It is ambitious legislation, no doubt, but it is the type of action that my neighbors are insisting we take in Congress.
As we head into the New Year, my colleagues and I will continue to work to deliver these solutions because this is not just about policy, it is about the real life consequences of inaction by both Congress and the President.
5. Our State of Neighbors: Even with a shorter week, I was still filled up in conversation and community with my neighbors back in state. Here are a few notable moments.
I met with public union leaders from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and members of Delaware’s federal workforce to talk about what it means to protect the people who keep our government running. From threats to earned benefits to attacks on job security and workplace dignity, they were clear: federal workers are being treated like bargaining chips instead of public servants. These are Delawareans who process Social Security claims, care for veterans, protect our environment, and serve our communities every day. I’ll keep standing up for a government that respects its workers—because when we undermine the workforce, we undermine the services our neighbors rely on.
I was grateful to join faith leaders and community advocates at the IMAC Holiday Brunch—a powerful reminder that service and compassion are at the heart of Delaware. From the We Care ministry to the holiday drive supporting families at the Ronald McDonald House and Sunday Breakfast Mission, this gathering showed what it looks like to live our values out loud. Especially during the holiday season, IMAC’s work sends a clear message to our neighbors: you are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone. Moments like this are why Delaware will always be a state of neighbors.
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 Rep. McBride with leaders from AFGE and members of Delaware’s federal workforce.
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I think we can all agree: 2025 has been a hell of a year.
From Delaware to D.C., I have heard both emotional and truly moving stories from so many. At the end of each day, I am thankful for the role I get to play as your Representative in Congress and I have been honored to serve you.
I have taken each week as another opportunity to deliver all that I can for my neighbors and I will continue to do all I can to protect you from the worst overreaches of this government and to find solutions wherever possible.
Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. |
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| Sarah McBride |
| Delaware's Congresswoman |
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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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