Dear Friend, 

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

A few weeks ago, I told you that House Republicans wanted to send another $73 billion of your tax dollars to President Trump’s reckless war in Iran. This week, they brought that war funding bill to the House floor — and I voted no. At a time when families are already stretched thin, Washington should be making life easier for our neighbors — not funding more war, more chaos, and more hardship.

That vote was only one part of a busy week. Here are five more things you should know:  

This week, I introduced the bipartisan Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act! People with disabilities have often been denied the opportunity to thrive at work, not because they lack experience or qualifications, but often because workplaces are not designed with their needs in mind. Every American deserves access to meaningful opportunities and dignified working conditions, and that is exactly what this bill sets out to accomplish.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was passed into law 36 years ago this week, businesses are required to provide “reasonable accommodations” to employees with disabilities, and those accommodations often cost small businesses money. My bill will help small businesses by alleviating costs related to recruiting and retaining people with disabilities. 

This move is a step toward fairness for people with disabilities across the country who are struggling to access the support they need. But it's also crucially important right here in Delaware, where 98% of our businesses are small businesses. Many of these companies are already navigating tight margins, workforce shortages, and rising costs. They should not have to worry about hiring a qualified worker because they can’t afford the tools that worker needs to succeed.

This bipartisan legislation removes that worry, strengthens small businesses, and helps create a future where every Delawarean is treated with dignity and respect. 

Four more American servicemembers were killed in President Trump’s war with Iran last weekend, bringing the total number of American military deaths to 18. That’s 18 families grieving loved ones lost in this war, and President Trump still lacks practical objectives or a clear plan for bringing our troops home. 

These deaths were completely avoidable. Instead of diplomacy, the President has repeatedly chosen to recklessly escalate this conflict, sacrificing American lives and spending billions of dollars in the process.

Those billions are not abstract — they are taxpayer dollars that could have been spent lowering healthcare costs, supporting veterans, strengthening schools, or helping families afford housing and child care. 

Delawareans deserve better. This week, I supported another war powers resolution to reassert Congress’ constitutional authority and bring an end to this president’s pointless war. I also voted against a defense authorization bill that hands more than a trillion dollars to Trump and his team, allowing them to continue this war without limits, oversight, or accountability. 

Supporting our troops requires more than lip service. It means refusing to send them into harm’s way when there’s no strategy, congressional authorization, or a credible path home. I’ll keep pushing to end this conflict, and pursuing policies that protect our troops, respect our neighbors, and make life more affordable for the American people. 

This week, I had an important hearing in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I questioned United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz about this administration’s disastrous approach to our allies and adversaries. And I pressed him to explain why the United States has failed to stand firmly against Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. 

While Donald Trump continues to handle Putin with kid gloves, he reserves his toughest rhetoric for longstanding allies like Denmark. This dangerous approach to foreign policy, which Ambassador Waltz endorses, is endangering Americans and jeopardizing the invaluable alliances foundational to international peace. 

The Ambassador wants us to believe that by abandoning the United Nations and alienating our allies, we are putting America first. Instead, all they are doing is strengthening our adversaries and leaving America out on its own. You can watch my full remarks here.

Members of Congress are elected to serve the public — not to use the information that comes with their office to enrich themselves. I firmly believe that we need to pass a ban on stock trading by members of Congress and senior federal officials. But House Republicans only seem interested in playing politics with this issue. 

This week they brought a bill called the Stop Insider Trading Act up for a vote. Despite its name, the bill would allow members of Congress to keep the stocks they already own, sell them when beneficial, and, in some cases, continue buying lucrative shares in private companies. It also leaves the president and vice president entirely untouched, despite President Trump’s extraordinary record of profiting from the power and visibility of his office.

And House Republicans didn’t stop there. They attached provisions from the SAVE Act that would impose new burdens on eligible voters, severely restrict voting by mail, and create chaos for state election officials just months before an election. 

Let’s call this what it was: a partisan political stunt designed to score points not solve problems. Instead of helping families afford healthcare, housing, and groceries, Congressional Republicans are playing games with our elections while preserving loopholes that allow powerful people to keep profiting from their positions.

I voted no because Delawareans deserve real reform, not a misleading headline. That’s also why I’m a cosponsor of the Restore Trust in Government Act, a comprehensive reform bill that actually puts a stop to insider trading within the federal government. The Restore Trust in Government Act doesn’t include convenient carveouts for President Trump or Vice President Vance, and it has strong support from Democrats and Republicans. 

I signed a discharge petition to force a vote on this legislation on the House floor, and I will continue working to root out corruption across the federal government — because elected office should be a place to serve the public — not a platform to pad your portfolio. 

This week, I met with folks from across the First State who are doing incredible things: Delawareans are building spaces of belonging, caring for families, strengthening public health, and fighting to make sure everyone has the stability and dignity they deserve.

I met with Delaware families living with type 1 diabetes through Breakthrough T1D’s Together We Can Campaign. They shared what it means to manage diabetes every day, from diagnosis to the constant work of monitoring and treatment. Their stories reinforced the importance of sustained federal investment in diabetes research, better screening and early detection, and stronger access to the tools and training families need. I’m committed to creating a future for our state where folks with type 1 diabetes have comprehensive support, quality care, and a government that is invested in finding a cure.

At the Blood Bank of Delmarva’s Christiana Donor Center, I saw firsthand the work that goes into maintaining a safe and reliable blood supply for hospitals across our region. I met with the team responsible for recruiting donors and keeping operations running, and we discussed the need to strengthen blood-center infrastructure, expand access to lifesaving transfusions, and support the public health systems that patients depend on. This is the kind of quiet, essential work that keeps communities healthy and saves lives every day.

I met with Housing Alliance Delaware to discuss proposed federal changes that could put programs that help people experiencing homelessness and connect people to permanent housing at risk. Delaware relies heavily on Continuum of Care funding from the federal government, and the proposed changes to that program could cost our state millions of dollars and jeopardize housing for hundreds of people. Housing is not a reward — it is the foundation people need to regain stability, care for their families, and move forward with dignity. No one should lose the chance to rebuild their life because Washington chose ideology over practical policy.

Rep. McBride meets with leaders from Housing Alliance Delaware.

After a week of votes, hearings, and hard conversations, I remain encouraged by Delawareans who keep showing what care, service, and community look like in practice. From families advocating for better healthcare to neighbors building more welcoming and secure communities, the work happening across our state is a reminder that progress is always possible when we look out for one another.

Thank you for reading along and allowing me to do this work.

Whatever you are up to this weekend (perhaps checking out the legendary Delaware State Fair?), I hope it’s a good one.

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

• Ready, Set, Retire!: Preparing for retirement can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate this transition alone. On Thursday, August 20, my office will be hosting a financial literacy event for Delawareans age 55 and older at the Georgetown CHEER Community Center. Attendees can hear from state and local experts on Medicare, Medicaid, elder law, consumer protection, long-term care, and more. The event runs from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. RSVP is encouraged but not required. 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 15 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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