Dear Friend, 

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

I’ve got exciting news I want to highlight, so let’s dive right into five things you should know this week:  

I’m proud to share that our office has been awarded the 2026 Democracy Award for Best Constituent Service in Congress by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF).

Over the last sixteen months, our Constituent Advocacy team helped more than 1,500 Delawareans navigate federal agencies and returned nearly $6.5 million in backlogged benefits to folks across the First State. 

Behind every one of those cases is a neighbor: a veteran waiting on benefits, a senior trying to get their Social Security check, a family stuck in passport limbo, or someone simply trying to get a clear answer from their government.

This is what public service should be. Not headlines for the sake of headlines. Not noise. Just a government that treats people with respect, cuts through red tape, and follows through on its promises.

I am incredibly proud of our team — because this is a recognition of our commitment to delivering for Delawareans. But more than anything, I’m recommitted to the work ahead — because every Delawarean deserves a government that shows up, listens, and delivers. So if you or someone you love is having trouble with a federal agency, please reach out to my office. We’re here to help. 

This week, a bipartisan housing affordability bill was ready for the President’s signature after passing Congress with overwhelming support in both chambers. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is Congress’ largest housing affordability bill in three decades. 

President Trump was initially prepared to sign this legislation into law. But shortly before his scheduled signing ceremony, he announced that he would not move forward until Congress passes the so-called SAVE America Act — a dangerous voter suppression bill built around Trump’s continued denial of the 2020 election results and that includes a buffet of culture war attacks. 

Let’s be clear about what’s happening here: President Trump is using Americans’ urgent need for housing relief as leverage to force through a bill that would make it harder for voters to hold him accountable at the ballot box. 

That’s not just corruption or incompetence, it is strategic cruelty designed to preserve his own power at the expense of working people. 

My neighbors in Delaware are facing rising rents, sky-high mortgage costs, and a housing market that feels further out of reach every year. They need homes, not political ransom notes. They need lower rents, not more chaos. They need leaders focused on making life more affordable, not voting more difficult. 

Regardless of what the President does, I’ll keep working to lower costs, remove barriers to affordable housing, and build a future where all of my neighbors have a fair shot at the American Dream. 

This week, I went to the House floor to honor the retiring members of Delaware’s General Assembly — public servants with more than a century of combined service to our state of neighbors. 

I spoke about Senator Dave Sokola’s leadership on education, paid leave, and environmental sustainability; Senator Dave Lawson’s lifetime of service to veterans and first responders; and Representative Deb Heffernan’s work for teachers, families, caregivers, and people with disabilities.

I also recognized my retiring colleagues across the aisle in the State House — Representatives Ron Gray, Rich Collins, Charles Postles, Jeff Hilovsky, and my friend, Kevin Hensley — for their work supporting small businesses, promoting financial literacy, and fighting for farmers. 

Together, these leaders remind us of something important: in Delaware, public service is not defined by the side of the aisle you sit on. It’s defined by your capacity to deliver for your neighbors. In a state as small and close-knit as ours, that kind of service matters — because the work is never abstract. It’s always about people we know, communities we love, and the future we share. 

To my former colleagues and mentors in Leg Hall, thank you for your years of service to the greatest state in the Union — and best wishes for a happy retirement. You can watch my remarks here. 

Americans are losing an estimated $119 billion to scams every year. Behind each of those dollars are real people whose lives were turned upside down: seniors saving for retirement, parents planning for the future, and small business owners barely scraping by.  

This growing crisis of scams in our country is driven, in part, by sophisticated criminal organizations operating overseas — many of which are also involved in human trafficking. In countries across the world, people are trapped in scam compounds, threatened, abused, and forced to target Americans. 

Too often, our approach to these scams is reactive. A link is clicked. Money is sent. An identity is stolen. And only then does the government step in — after decades of work have already been jeopardized. 

I’ve heard firsthand from my neighbors how damaging these scams can be, so I took action to stop them at their source. This week, I introduced the bipartisan Stop Scamming Americans Act. This legislation helps our government identify international scam syndicates, work with our partners abroad to disrupt them, and protect Americans before their savings are stolen.

No matter our politics, we can all agree that Americans who play by the rules and save for the future deserve a government committed to protecting what they’ve earned — especially older Americans who’ve spent decades working, building, and fighting for this country. 

I’ll continue collaborating across the aisle to defend my neighbors, strengthen consumer protections, and ensure every American is able to live with dignity and security. 

Everywhere I went this week, Delawareans reminded me that community is not just something we talk about. It’s something we build — in churches, classrooms, and community centers across our state.

I joined IMAC at the New Destiny Fellowship in Wilmington for its Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, a service rooted in worship, music, history, and community. It was a beautiful reminder that Juneteenth is not only a commemoration of freedom delayed, but a call to keep building a future defined by justice, dignity, and opportunity for all.

In Smyrna, I joined Vice Mayor Dr. Corrine Upshur at the 4th Annual Juneteenth Experience. Families, community leaders, educators, small businesses, and public servants came together to celebrate Black communities in Delaware and recommit ourselves to the ongoing pursuit of equity and opportunity.

At Delaware Tech in Dover, Senator Coons, Senator Blunt Rochester, and I hosted the annual Veterans Summit with Delaware’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs Karen Berry, Wilmington VA Medical Center Executive Director Thandiwe Nelson-Brooks, and veteran-serving organizations from across the state. Veterans and their families were able to access information and resources about benefits, health care, mental health, housing, and employment. It was important to hear directly from the veterans who’ve given so much to our state and nation about how Congress can fill the critical gaps in support for veterans and their families.

I met with members of the Delaware Music Educators Association to discuss the importance of arts education and support for teachers. Music education gives students more than notes on a page. It gives them confidence, discipline, creativity, and belonging. As a graduate of Cab Calloway, I know that students deserve schools where the arts are not treated as extra, but as essential to a full and meaningful education.

Whether we’re cutting through red tape, celebrating freedom, supporting veterans, or listening to the people who care for and educate our communities, my goal is the same: to be a representative that shows up and follows through with purpose.

That’s what Delawareans deserve — and that’s what I’ll keep working to deliver.

Whatever you are up to this weekend, I hope it’s a good one.

Talk soon, Delaware.

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

• 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

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