Dear Friend, 

 Welcome back to the McBride Memo, my weekly dispatch to Delaware! As we head into the weekend (and maybe a bit of snow!), here are five big things from my week serving Delawareans in Congress:

1. One big thing: Okay, there are actually two big things this week! 

First, while exact predictions have varied, it is clear that over the weekend and into Monday, Delaware will see some severe winter weather. Luckily, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) has prepared a readiness and awareness page for the conditions that you can expect this weekend and into next week. You can see their information and follow along for updates on their website. I hope that you and yours stay warm and safe in the coming days! 

Also, small spoiler for a later section in today’s McBride Memo, but I am thrilled to share that I secured $4 million for new technology that has been developed in Delaware to prevent AI data center harm. I share the concerns many in Delaware have expressed about the impact of data centers on surrounding communities. This investment supports cutting-edge manufacturing that would reduce energy and water use for data centers, and reinforces Delaware’s role in next-generation innovation. This funding reflects a key priority: delivering results that improve lives here in Delaware and support our spot as the greatest state in The Union. 

2. Driving the news: This week marked one full year since Donald Trump took office promising that costs would fall on “Day One.” Instead, one year in, life is more expensive than ever.

Families across Delaware are feeling it every day. Groceries cost more. Energy bills are higher. Rent, mortgages, and health care are taking up more of each paycheck. In Delaware, families are facing an overall average increase of $1,301 in both housing and transportation. Trump and Congressional Republicans said lowering costs was their top priority—but their actions tell a different story.

The so-called Big Ugly Bill and the administration’s chaotic tariff war have driven up prices across the board. Trump’s tariffs are acting like a hidden tax on working families, raising the cost of food, utilities, construction materials, and everyday goods. Inflation remains stubbornly high, and the economic uncertainty created by this administration is squeezing household budgets even further.

Delawareans deserve better. My colleagues and I have taken action to restore Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and lower health care costs for families. Instead, Congressional Republicans have used funding that should go to your health care for their lawless para-military deportation force. 

I’ll continue to fight the cruelty, chaos, and corruption of this administration and to build a future where the American Dream is affordable and accessible for everyone. 

3. ICYMI: Last week, I shared that I was joining a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to Denmark. Our priority was to strengthen our relationship with our longstanding ally of Denmark and reinforce the importance of NATO.

What we heard was deeply troubling. President Trump’s repeated threats to seize Greenland have created real fear among Greenlanders and Danes alike. The mere talk of seizing Greenland, whether by force or coercion, has undermined our alliances. 

While here in the states we often dismiss some of this President’s rhetoric as extremist or unfounded, among our allies in Denmark and Greenland, this rhetoric is not taken lightly. Ordinary people stopped my colleagues and me in the street asking what they could possibly do to protect their country from unprovoked attacks. It is difficult to convey the shift Danes and Greenlanders feel at this moment. America has long been a friend and ally—and Denmark came to our defense during the conflict in Afghanistan, sacrificing their lives for ours. To have that relationship met with threats against their sovereignty is a betrayal of mass proportion. Bottom line: the United States is seen as the bad guy right now, not the good one. 

This approach is reckless and unnecessary. Denmark and Greenland are eager partners, they welcome U.S. investment, and support expanded Arctic security cooperation. Other NATO allies are aligned on strengthening the region together, and the President’s musings of aggression have undermined those relationships, weakened our alliances, and damaged American credibility at a moment when unity matters most. I am, of course, hopeful that the latest message from the White House takes hostility towards Greenland off the table—but I am not holding my breath. 

Delawareans understand that strength comes from partnership and respect. I’ll keep pushing for a foreign policy rooted in diplomacy, dignity, and shared values, because our security depends on strong alliances, not threats. You can watch me speak on MS NOW about my trip and the implications of this moment. 

4. Legislative priority: I have always said that I would stand up to anyone who is hurting Delaware and work with anyone to help Delaware. Earlier this week, the House was able to come together to invest in our communities, delivering real wins for Delawareans and families across the country.

Despite the divide in our politics, we were able to come together across bipartisan lines to invest in housing security, strengthen critical infrastructure, give our troops a raise, and modernize air traffic control to keep travel safe and reliable. We restored funding for public health and biomedical research, and increased support for child care and early childhood education so working families can better balance work and care. And, in doing this, we established strong legal guardrails against the abuse of power we saw from the administration last year when they unilaterally cut funding and fired federal workers. Taken together, these investments reflect bipartisan progress on the priorities that matter most to real people.

At a moment when the White House is focused on tarnishing our relationship with our allies and other distractions, Congress has shown that it can still come together to deliver meaningful investments in our communities. There is more work ahead, and no bill is perfect, but this funding is an important reminder that cooperation produces results.

That said, I voted against the bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security, including funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Secretary Noem’s office. Given the department’s reckless and unlawful actions, I could not, in good conscience, support funding for DHS, which included another massive increase in funding for ICE.

Many Delawareans have shared this concern with me directly. I agree with those concerns. I remain committed to robust congressional oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and continue to support impeachment proceedings against Secretary Noem.

Delivering for our neighbors means investing in what works and holding government accountable when it fails. I will keep doing both.

5. Our state of neighbors: I had the pleasure of meeting with a few neighbors and with one woman who reminded me how certain moments have an impact far beyond this present moment: 

I also got to talk briefly with Ericka Roberts, a PhD student at the University of Delaware and a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. We went on a tour of the Capitol and talked about her U.D. program. I always enjoy the opportunity to connect and spend time with Delawareans, as I often say, so our time was a welcome reprieve on a busy week. 

I met with Alexis McGill Johnson, President of Planned Parenthood, to talk about the escalating attacks on reproductive health care and what they mean for women and families in Delaware. Planned Parenthood provides essential, often lifesaving care, yet continues to face relentless political efforts to undermine access and criminalize providers. We talked about how reproductive freedom is about dignity, autonomy, and the ability to make personal health care decisions without government interference. This conversation echoed conversations I have had with health care providers across Delaware, who are facing restrictive policies that lead to overcorrection and overcompliance that benefits neither patients or providers. I’ll continue standing with providers and advocates who are working every day to ensure women can get the care they need, when they need it, here in Delaware and nationwide.

At ACOG’s Maternal Health Awareness Day in Dover, I joined Delaware OB/GYNs, maternal health advocates, and policy leaders to focus on one urgent challenge: preserving access to quality maternity care in our state. Providers were clear about what they’re facing right now—workforce shortages, burnout, and unsustainable practice models that threaten access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities. We talked about practical solutions, from strengthening the OB/GYN workforce pipeline and protecting 12 months of postpartum Medicaid coverage to investing in telehealth and maternal mental health supports. I’m grateful to the Delaware Chapter of ACOG, including Dr. Margaret Chou and Dr. Nancy Fan, for their leadership and partnership. Their message was simple and powerful: supporting providers is essential to keeping mothers and babies safe.

That’s all for this week—and I kept it a bit shorter! Stay safe and warm this weekend, and I hope you are able to safely enjoy the winter weather.  Enjoy your weekend!  Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. Sarah McBride Delaware's Congresswoman

• Share Your WRDA Priorities! The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorizes critical projects like flood protection, port improvements, shoreline restoration, and other water infrastructure our communities rely on. As Congress prepares for the next WRDA reauthorization, if you have priorities to share, please submit them here. Proposals must be submitted by January 26 at 5:59 pm
• 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 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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