Dear Friend, 

Welcome back to the McBride Memo—my weekly dispatch to Delawareans. 

This week was full of continued chaotic leadership from House Republicans and a clear example of their priorities: to ensure this president remains unchecked in all of his actions, here at home and abroad.

It was a busy week, here are five things to know: 

This week, the partial government shutdown that kept the Department of Homeland Security unfunded finally concluded after the House of Representatives approved a measure that funds the entire department except ICE and CBP. This is the bipartisan solution that was passed unanimously by the Senate and then stalled by Speaker Johnson in the House. We could have ended this shutdown weeks ago—but Congressional Republicans refused to act.

At the same time, House Republicans put forward a new budget resolution that would give an additional $70 billion to ICE And CBP with no guardrails at all. No accountability, no reform, and no response to the horrors that Americans everywhere have watched unfold. 

While my colleagues and I have been pushing for oversight, restraint, and due process, Congressional Republicans are choosing division, unchecked cruelty, and disorder. Bottom line: they are unwilling to put any check whatsoever on this president’s abuse of power or his mass deportation agenda. 

As the House heads towards yet another partisan budget battle that infuses this administration with more taxpayer dollars and little-to-no oversight, I remain firmly opposed to advancing policies that put my neighbors at risk. 

Sixty days ago today, Donald Trump began an illegal and reckless war in Iran—without an objective and without securing the proper Congressional approval. 

Today, though, marks an important deadline. Under the War Powers Act of 1973, the president has the authority to use military force for up to sixty days to respond to an imminent threat or to respond to an attack on the homeland. Of course, when Trump began this war two months ago, it was not in response to an imminent attack and he received no authorization from Congress. So, one thing remains clear: this war was illegal on day one and it is illegal on day sixty. 

Democrats in Congress have brought multiple measures to the floor in an attempt to bring this conflict to an end, but House Republicans have refused, every single time, to act as a check on this administration. 

Meanwhile, families and Americans everywhere are paying the price. 

My view, and the law, is simple: either President Trump comes to Congress to make the case for his illegal war of choice or he ends this war. Now. 

Check out my thoughts here: 

Recently, I was honored to speak on the House Floor about my trip to Hockessin Colored School #107c and the role that Delawareans played in helping to bend the arc of history toward justice. 

The school, designated as an affiliate site of the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historical Park, tells the story of Sarah Bulah, of Louis Redding, and of the families who dared to challenge an unjust system so their children could access a fairer education.

The historic site is a one-room schoolhouse that stands as both a painful reminder of the scourge of segregation in our communities and a powerful testament to the Delwareans who shaped the fight for equality that overturned “separate but equal”. 

I spoke about how, during my visit, I had the privilege of hearing directly from Mr. Sonny Knott, who attended the school in the 1930s and has helped to preserve its history for future generations. You can watch my full speech here. 

 When workers vote to unionize, they deserve speedy access to the benefits of collective bargaining—not endless delays. 

But right now, when workers in Delaware and across the country successfully vote to form a union, there is no deadline for reaching a first contract. That allows employers to drag their feet during collective bargaining negotiations, undermining workers’ efforts to organize.

That is why I signed a discharge petition this week to force a vote in the House on the bipartisan Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA)—legislation I cosponsored that would speed up the process of negotiating contracts for new labor unions. Because workers who organize are exercising a fundamental right, and that right should come with tangible workplace benefits.

On this May Day—my priorities are clear: labor rights are essential to our economy. 

By setting clear timelines and ensuring a path to resolution, this bill promotes fairness and protects employees. It’s a commonsense step towards building an economy where every worker is treated with dignity and respect, and I will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with working people and labor unions to ensure their ability to fairly negotiate for the workplace benefits they deserve. 

It was a chaotic and busy week here in Washington, but I still had the chance to connect with a few Delawareans and hear about how I can best serve them in Congress. Here are a few of those meetings:

I met with Natalia Gatti, the winner of Delaware’s Poetry Out Loud competition. The competition took place in Smyrna a few months ago and Natalia and her mother were here in Washington for the National Poetry Out Loud Finalists reception, a celebration of the power of spoken word and an opportunity to connect with fellow student finalists. It was wonderful to spend a moment with Natalia, congratulate her, and encourage her to stay engaged with the arts and her passions. 

I met with Gloria Ho, Director of the Delaware State Education Association, to talk about what students, educators, and families are facing right now. As both a statewide labor leader and a school social worker, Gloria brought urgency and heart to the conversation. We discussed the proposed education cuts in the President’s budget, threats to public education, and the fear created when schools are caught in the fray of policy. Her message was clear: children need stable, supportive classrooms to learn—and educators need a government that respects their work and invests in their students.

I also sat down with Jack Riddle, President of Community Bank Delaware, and a real leader in Sussex County, to talk about the role community banks play in helping local families and small businesses thrive. Jack understands that access to capital can shape whether opportunity grows close to home or slips further out of reach. Our conversation covered how federal policy can support smaller institutions that know their communities best. In a state like Delaware, community banking is more than about money—it’s about trust, relationships, and keeping opportunity local.

Thank you for reading along, I promise I am working on keeping these short again! Meanwhile,  I appreciate you staying engaged. 

Have a great weekend! Talk soon, Delaware. 

Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. Sarah McBride Delaware's Congresswoman

• Upcoming Mobile Office Hours: Our constituent advocacy team is hosting the next Mobile Office Hours event in Middletown on Tuesday, May 19 from 4 to 6pm at the Appoquinimink Library. Representatives from our office will be available to help neighbors with a variety of issues, you can learn more and RSVP here. 
• Service Academy Nominations: Our office is accepting applications from Delaware students seeking nominations to our nation’s prestigious service academies! As a member of Congress, it is my honor to support these students in their efforts to serve our nation in uniform. The application deadline is October 15th and you can find more information on eligibility and application requirements 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 winner will also be invited to the national #HouseOfCode celebration in D.C! Learn more and get started 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

Contact me

Click here to subscribe to my eNewsletter