Dear Friend, 

Welcome to the very first McBride Memo of 2026! This week marked the start of my second year in Congress. While it has been a reminder of the cruelty that has marked much of this administration, it has also sharpened my resolve to protect my neighbors. Here are a five big things I think you should know from this week:

1. One Big Thing: After months of warning of the evisceration of the American health care system, this week my colleagues and I were able to pass through the House an extension of the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits for the next three years. This bill would extend these credits to offer affordable care to my neighbors and Americans everywhere. As this legislation heads to the Senate, I remain hopeful that the rightness of our cause will win the hearts of both sides of the aisle and that we can secure these price protections for the next few years. 

While the fight is far from over, this is a huge step forward in our collective work to protect people’s health care. Many said getting this far would be impossible in the minority, but Democrats were united and focused—and joined by a chorus of Americans—we pressured enough Republicans in Congress to join us to force a vote on our proposal. Because of our voices, yours and mine, we are one step closer to reversing the skyrocketing premiums for tens of thousands of Delawareans.

2. Driving the News: Since I last wrote to you, we have seen two extremely dangerous examples of this administration’s abuse of power—one here at home and another on the world stage.

First, in the early hours of 2026, President Trump unilaterally ordered military action to capture President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and bring him to New York City for criminal proceedings. While I’m grateful that there were no American casualties, these actions insert the United States into a regime change operation that could ultimately risk American lives, money, and credibility. And they are part of a larger effort by Donald Trump to remake the global order and undermine the constitutional structure of our government. 

This is clearly not about democracy for the Venezuelan people or combating drug trafficking: Trump is upending the Western Hemisphere to enrich his billionaire buddies with oil money.  Bottom line: I oppose a “might makes right in my neighborhood” foreign policy. It is amoral, illegal, dangerous, and lays the foundation for bad actors like Russia and China. History is littered with conflict, atrocities, and global wars ushered in under the veil of preserving democracy. When we do not learn from our past, we are doomed to repeat it. 

More recently, we saw the brutal murder of Renee Nicole Good, a resident of Minneapolis who was shot in broad daylight by an ICE agent. In the moments immediately following the incident, the administration and Secretary Noem were quick to defame Renee, claiming she intended to harm law enforcement. We have seen the videos with our own eyes, Renee was trying to drive away from the scene. DHS’s own handbook forbids the behavior we witnessed this week.

It is disrespectful to local law enforcement to compare these agents to the men and women who live and serve us everyday. ICE has become something else entirely, and they make the work of local law enforcement harder. They make our communities less safe. This behavior cannot go unchecked. This agent must be held accountable and Kristi Noem must resign now. Unfortunately, she lacks shame and will not, which is why I support impeachment of this lawless official. You can watch my full statement here.

 3. On the Floor: Over the holiday break, Delaware State Trooper Corporal Grade One Matthew T. “Ty” Snook’s life was stolen in a senseless act of violence at the Wilmington DMV. Ty showed us what real courage looks like—putting others first, even in the face of danger. As we mourn his loss, our prayers are with his family and all who loved him, and we honor the bravery, integrity, and service that defined his life. 

After attending Corporal Snook’s memorial this week and hearing from his family about the life he lived, I was honored to uplift his life and legacy on the House floor. His sister, Kassi Snook Dunphy, delivered a touching eulogy that I found particularly moving, saying, “Tyler did not just pass on as a hero, he lived every day as one.” You can watch my full remarks in memory of Corporal Grade One Snook here. 

4. Legislative Priority: This week, the House voted to approve a package of bills (referred to as a “minibus”) that funds part of the government. This minibus guaranteed a few key wins for my neighbors, including the reassertion of Congress’ power of the purse, addressing rising utility and energy costs, investing in water infrastructure and climate resilience, and protecting critical EPA funding despite the White House’s proposed cuts. 

More than this, we secured new federal funding for Delaware! This funding touches a wide array of projects, from beach replenishment in Sussex County, to water infrastructure in Smyrna, to biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment at UD, and to law enforcement support in New Castle County. 

This is a huge win for Delaware and a significant legislative feat at a time when progress has often felt stunted—and I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues to deliver this critical funding. There are, of course, priorities that still require addressing, but this minibus is a step in the right direction and a reminder that oftentimes it is the un-glamourous work of appropriations that truly impacts our communities. 

5. Our State of Neighbors: As we head into the year ahead, I wanted to share about the work I was thankful to do for you in my first year in Congress. It was a labor of love, and a responsibility I did not take lightly. I am honored to be your Member of Congress and love everyday I get to spend working for the greatest state in The Union. My team and I put together a report to reflect on the last year and you can give it a read here. 

Here are a few recent meetings I had with Delawareans that filled my cup:

Before the holiday, I had the pleasure of congratulating Evina Shingavi, Delaware’s winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. My office received several submissions from impressively talented students across the First State, but Evina’s app, Respondify, impressed our four judge panel based on her skill, its concept, and the design. Respondify is a life-saving app that connects trained volunteers to nearby emergencies in real time, ensuring critical life-saving assistance reaches people faster—especially when every second counts. Respondify is a powerful tool that helps turn everyday people into lifesavers. We are so proud of her work and excited to see what is next for Respondify and Evina!

This weekend, I was honored to attend the promotion ceremony for Lt. Col. Chaplain Rev. A’Shellarien Addison at the Delaware Army National Guard. Rev. Addison is the first female to hold this rank at DNG and I was moved to hear about her commitment to not only her fellow guardsmen but to the work she gets to do. I, once again, extend my congratulations to Rev. Addison and look forward to all the work she continues to do in shaping her time in this role. 

I joined students from the University of Delaware Black Student Union for a virtual conversation about leadership, belonging, and what it means to feel seen in the spaces where decisions are made. They spoke candidly about navigating higher education, advocating for equity on campus, and the importance of having leaders who listen—not just during election years, but every day. Their clarity and conviction were powerful reminders that the next generation of Delaware leaders is already shaping the future—and my job is to make sure Washington is creating space for their voices to be heard.

I met with Dr. Dawn Lott of Delaware State University as part of Mathematical Sciences on the Hill to talk about the importance of sustained federal investment in math education and research. From preparing students for STEM careers to driving innovation across our economy, mathematical sciences are foundational to so much of what makes Delaware—and our country—competitive. Dr. Lott’s message was clear: when we invest in educators and researchers, we invest in opportunity, discovery, and the next generation of problem-solvers right here at home.

The work road ahead is steep, but my hopefulness for our future is sharp and my resolve is clear. I am just getting started as your Representative and I look forward to the many ways we get to make government work for you in the year ahead. Despite the challenges we face.  Enjoy your weekend!  Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. Sarah McBride Delaware's Congresswoman

• 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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